Beans cooked with lard are a modest luxury. Just a tablespoon or two of pork fat goes a long way towards softening the texture of dried beans, and gives you an unmistakable feeling of satiety. Make a big pot and freeze leftovers in small containers for quick thawing. Pinto beans are sturdy; they easily stay intact when thawed.

Steps

1. Sort and rinse beans. Cover with water by 2 inches and soak 6 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
3. Drain beans and place in a heavy ovenproof pot. Cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Skim off any foam that rises. Peel onion, leaving the stem end intact to hold the onion together. Add onion and lard to beans.
4. Cover pot and put in oven. Check beans after 20 minutes. Add more water if needed. Beans should stay covered. They should be at a gentle simmer, not a boil, so beans do not burst. Adjust temperature of oven if necessary.
5. Beans are done when tender but not falling apart, about 1 to 1½ hours.
6. Add salt to beans while they are still hot and stir gently to distribute. Put cover back on; check the seasoning after 30 minutes or so, giving the beans time to absorb the salt. Then allow the beans to cool to room temperature, uncovered, before refrigerating or freezing. Remove and discard onion.