Ingredients

2 cups (about 1 pound) dried black beans, picked over, soaked overnight

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 bay leaf

Kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

In a large pot, soak beans overnight covered in water by 2 inches. Drain and set aside.

In the same pot, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, jalapeno pepper, garlic, and bay leaf and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the beans and cover with water by about 1-inch. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans are tender. Remove the bay leaf and discard. Taste the beans and season with salt and pepper.