Mexican Braised Beans Soft Egg (Printable)

Tender beans simmered in Mexican spices with soft-boiled eggs, avocado, and fresh garnishes.

# What You Need:

→ Beans and Aromatics

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Braising Base

06 - 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
08 - 1 cup vegetable broth
09 - 2 teaspoons ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Eggs

15 - 4 large eggs

→ Garnishes

16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - 1 avocado, sliced
18 - 1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta
19 - Lime wedges

# How-To:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, jalapeño, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and chili powder. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add black beans, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and braise for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and the mixture is thickened. Remove and discard bay leaf.
05 - While beans are braising, bring a saucepan of water to a gentle boil. Carefully add eggs and simmer for 6 minutes for soft-boiled. Transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking, then gently peel.
06 - Spoon braised beans into bowls. Top each with a peeled soft-boiled egg, avocado slices, queso fresco, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
07 - Serve immediately, optionally with warm corn tortillas.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its pure comfort food that happens to be packed with protein and fiber
  • The soft egg creates this incredible creamy sauce when you break it over the beans
  • Everything comes together in one pan and feels fancy without any actual effort
02 -
  • The egg timing matters, 6 minutes gives you a set white with a golden flowing yolk, any longer and you lose that luxurious creaminess
  • Letting the beans rest covered for 5 minutes off heat makes them even creamier
  • Warm your bowls before serving if you want this to stay hot longer
03 -
  • Mash a small handful of beans against the side of the pot to naturally thicken the sauce
  • Room temperature eggs are less likely to crack when you lower them into boiling water