Ingredients
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1 pound pinto, yellow-eyed or other dried beans, sorted and rinsed (2 1/2 cups)
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12 cups water
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8 ounces finely diced ham, (about 1 1/2 cups)
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1 medium onion, peeled
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1 clove garlic, peeled
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½ teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
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¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Directions
- Place beans, water, ham, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper in a large Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beans are very tender and beginning to burst, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If necessary, add an additional 1/2 to 1 cup water while simmering to keep the beans just submerged in cooking liquid.
- Remove from the heat; discard the onion and garlic. Transfer 2 cups of the beans to a medium bowl and coarsely mash with a fork or potato masher. Return the mashed beans to the pot; stir to combine.
