A light, brothy bean soup seasoned with dried chiles and Mexican oregano. This vegetarian, protein-rich soup is healthy, fiber-packed, and a comforting family staple across Mexico.
Rinse the pinto beans and soak them overnight or at least 6 hours to ensure even cooking and creamy texture.
Drain and place beans in a large pot with 6 cups vegetable broth. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 75 minutes, checking occasionally to maintain a gentle simmer for optimal bean softness.
While the beans cook, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Toast dried guajillo chiles for 1 minute, flipping until fragrant but not burned.
Remove stems and seeds from toasted chiles. Blend chiles with a ladle of bean broth and Mexican oregano until smooth, then stir this mixture back into the pot.
Continue simmering for 15 minutes, adjusting salt and black pepper to taste. The soup should remain brothy, not thick—add water if needed.
Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro or diced onion if desired.