Peruvian-Flavored Peruvian Beans

A simple, but flavorful Peruvian beans recipe with Peruvian flair! Bacon, ají panca, bell pepper, garlic, and spices with mayocoba or Peruvian beans, rice, and avocado make a healthy and flavorful meal your family will love!

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT20M

Total time: PT75M

Rating

4.96 stars (22 reviews)

Keywords

ají panca, Canary Beans, healthy beans and rice, Mayocoba Beans, Peruvian Bean Recipes, Peruvian Beans, Peruvian style bean recipes

Ingredients

1 cup dried Peruvian beans (aka mayocoba or canary beans) (or 4 cups cooked beans)
1 tablespoon salt
6 slices bacon (cut in 1" pieces)
1 onion (chopped)
1 bell pepper (diced)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tablespoons ají panca paste
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth or stock
2 teaspoons oregano leaves (Mexican or Mediterranean) (or 2 generous sprigs of fresh oregano)
1 cup water
1/4 cup harina de camote ((see Ingredients in post for substitutions))
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
garnishes (lime wedges, avocado, cotija, cilantro, etc.)

Cuisine

Peruvian

Steps

Cook the beans according to your preferred method. Add the tablespoon of salt to a generous pot of water. See post Instructions for more information.
Fry the bacon. Drain bacon on paper towels. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pot.
Cook the aromatics. Over medium-high heat, add the onion, cumin, bell pepper, garlic, ají panca and tomato paste. Sauté until onion is softened and mixture is very fragrant.
Add the beans, broth, and oregano to the pot. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer 15 minutes. Remove oregano sprigs if you used fresh.
Make the slurry. Whisk the camote de harina with reserved bean water (water or broth). Stir slurry into the beans mixture a little at a time over high heat until desired thickness is achieved.
Add salt as needed, honey, and vinegar. Stir in the cooked bacon. Bring mixture back up to a simmer for 5 minutes before serving.
Garnish as desired. Enjoy!

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 330 kcal
Carbohydrates: 41 g
Protein: 19 g
Fat: 7 g

Reviews

JanB on 2026-05-26 (5 stars):
Really delicious flavors Will definitely make again
Clay on 2025-08-24 (5 stars):
where does the red wine vinegar come in?
Christine Cutbirth on 2025-08-16 (5 stars):
Very delicious dish. Surprised how the honey and vinegar added to the flavor. I used instant potatoes to thicken. I’ll look for the sweet potato starch next time.
Billie on 2025-03-05 (5 stars):
I used a can of chipotle tomato sauce, in place of the tomato paste and aji panca paste. And added one diced large jalapeño. I also used fresh diced sweet potatoes, after cooking they thickened the bean soup perfectly.
pen on 2025-01-30 (5 stars):
Great recipe, appreciate it
Dr. J on 2024-11-06 (5 stars):
These beans are SO good! My wife and I have been vegan for a number of years, so we eat a *lot* of beans and have a ton of recipes. This is going to be one of my new favorites. Obviously, we didn't use the bacon, but I substituted smoked salt to help maintain the flavor profile. I kept the rest of the ingredients the same, and along the way discovered something new and delicious: aji panca paste. I had to order it from Amazon since I couldn't find it anywhere in my area. Long story short, this one is a keeper!
Anna B on 2024-09-16 (5 stars):
I LOVE this recipe! I have searched for years for a consistent recipe for creamy but firm beans. The recipe is distinct and reliable.. muy sabroso, and in Japanese Oishi!!