Charro Beans Recipes

Steps:

• Fry bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. With a slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper towels. Reserve 1/2 cup bacon drippings.
• Place drippings in a large pot, and warm over medium heat. Fry onions until light brown. Stir in ham and chorizo. Reserve 1 cup of beans, and add the rest to the pot, along with the chipotle and garlic.
• Mash the reserved beans, then add to the pot. Simmer beans until thick and soupy, about 30 minutes. (If the beans become too dry, stir in water). Remove chipotle and garlic, and serve.

Steps:

• Rinse and pick over beans.
• Bring the beans to a boil in a large pot of water and cook over medium heat for 1½ to 2 hours until they tender but still firm.
• Before the beans are done, fry the bacon in a large skillet until halfway cooked.
• Add garlic, tomatoes, onions, and green pepper; continue cooking with bacon until the bacon crisp.
• Add a can of beer to bacon mixture and simmer a few additional minutes, or longer if you like your beans softer.
• Add chopped cilantro and jalapenos; combine everything in one large pot.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

Steps:

• Cook the beans, strirring occasionally, in the boiling water until when squished between two figers they skin opens. If you need to add more water occasionally, it should be very hot. since cold water will toughen the beans.
• Add salt to taste 10 minutes before turning off flame.
• Take away from flame and set apart.
• Brown the bacon in hot cooking oil and add to it the onion and garlic.
• Add to the bacon sauté the beans along with the epazote sprig. Let it come to a boil, and then add the chile and the pork rind.
• Check seasoning and serve hot.
• Garnish each served bowl with cilantro.

Steps:

• Drain beans, place in a large pot, and add 10 cups water to cover. Add garlic, bouillon paste, and salt and bring to a simmer. Cook until beans are just tender, 30-35 minutes. Stir in coriander, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Remove beans from heat and stir in onion, tomato, and cilantro. Cover and let sit 5 minutes for flavors to meld.
• Do Ahead
• Beans (without onion, tomato, and cilantro) can be cooked 5 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat over medium before adding remaining ingredients.

Steps:

• Place ham hocks into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Boil until meat pulls back on bone, about 2 hours. Remove meat from bones, cut into bite-sized chunks. Reserve the bones but discard any fat.
• Chop 1/2 of the white onion, and leave other 1/2 whole; set aside.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, and chop when cool enough to handle. Pour bacon grease into a small bowl.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chorizo in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Place chorizo into a bowl with chopped bacon, tomatoes, chopped onion, and jalapenos.
• Place ham chunks and bones into a large pot, pour pinto beans over top. Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium or medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, heat bacon grease in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chorizo and vegetable mixture and saute until vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
• When beans boil, add the remaining onion half and garlic. Let boil for 3 to 4 minutes; add sauteed vegetables and meat. Return to a boil; add cilantro and chicken bouillon. Continue to boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove bones, season with salt, and serve.