Set your pressure cooker to saute mode, and add oil to the inner pot.
Add the onions, bell pepper, and garlic to the pot, and saute for about 3 minutes.
Add the bay leaf and spices.
Add the black beans and water, stirring to deglaze and incorporate the flavorful veggie bits from the bottom of the pot into the beans.
Cancel saute mode, then close the lid, making sure the vent is set to sealing.
Set the pot to manual or pressure cook mode on high pressure and increase the cook time to 35 minutes.
When the cook time is finished, let the pressure release naturally.
When the pressure has fully released, remove the lid of the pressure cooker, then gently stir the beans.
Add lime juice and garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Cooking time: If your dried beans have been sitting in storage for a long time, increase the cook time to 40-50 minutes to allow them to reach the perfect soft consistency.Soaked Beans: If you soak the black beans overnight, the cook time will reduce to 20-25 minutes. Reduce the water/broth for cooking to 1 cup. Season: Add jalapenos or cayenne pepper to taste for added spice.Soup: Add 2 additional cups of water or broth to the beans and increase pressure cook time to 50 minutes to soften beans. Mash some of the beans for added creaminess.Store: Cooked black beans will stay fresh for 3-5 days in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. For best results, allow beans to cool to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing.