Achiote Frijoles Recado Recipes

REFRIED BEANS: FRIJOLES REFRITOS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring the beans to a boil in 8 cups water. Let boil for 15 minutes and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Drain beans in a colander and rinse. Wash out the pot and return the beans to the pot with 8 cups fresh water. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook until tender, about 2 hours over low heat.
• In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper, and cook for a few minutes to allow flavors to integrate. Drain beans and add to pan, mashing the ingredients together. Heat through and serve with minced cilantro or minced parsley sprinkled on top.

TRADITIONAL ACHIOTE RECADO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring water and achiote seeds to a boil.
• Cook seeds, covered, at a bare simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat.
• (Steep seeds 2 hours, or until softened.) Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast garlic and onion, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Discard garlic skins.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast oregano over moderate heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes and transfer to a small bowl.
• Cool oregano completely and in an electric coffee/spice grinder grind fine.
• Drain seeds and in a blender or food processor blend with garlic, onion, oregano, and remaining ingredients until smooth.
• Recado may be made 5 days ahead and chilled and covered.

ACHIOTE MARINADE (RECADO)

Steps:

• Crush the salt into the garlic using a mortar and pestle until a paste forms.
• Add the annatto seeds, cumin, oregano, and black pepper and mix well.
• Pour in the vinegar and orange juice and stir well.
• Allow the marinade to sit for 5 minutes before using. You will notice that the marinade will become thicker after it sits for a few minutes.
• If you are not going to use it right away, transfer the marinade to an airtight container and refrigerate.
• INGREDIENTS
• Annato Seed
• This seed, which is also called achiote, gives off a musky and earthy flavor. It comes from the annatto tree and is used for both its flavor and red coloring. It is fine to use annatto powder, but the ground seeds are a much better option. The seeds are rather hard to crush by hand. If you do not have a spice grinder, use your blender to create the powder.
• TECHNIQUES
• Making a Garlic Paste
• When you crush salt into a peeled garlic clove, the garlic will let go of its moisture and turn into a paste. This technique somehow magically mellows out the pungent flavor of raw garlic.
• While you can create the paste using a knife (continue chopping a peeled garlic clove over a small mound of salt until you achieve a paste), a mortar and pestle is the easiest and best way to make the paste.
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• This marinade can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• This marinade goes incredibly well with chicken, fish, and pork.

COCHINITA PIBIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Trim the excess fat from the pork.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the achiote paste, vinegar, oregano, orange juice, and garlic. Mix well.
• Trim the center core from the banana leaves and run them under hot tap water until the leaves become soft and pliable. Remove the excess water from the leaves and lay them, long edges slightly overlapping, onto the countertop.
• Place the roast in a large mixing bowl and add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Add the achiote mixture and cover the roast with the mixture.
• Place the roast on the banana leaves and wrap it well, completely covering the surface of the roast. Place the roast on a rack inside a roasting pan. Add 2 cups water to the bottom of the pan, tent with foil and place it in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to 275 degrees F and roast for 6 hours.
• Serve with pickled red onions, warm corn tortillas and salsa.

FRIJOLES Y CHORIZO

Steps:

• Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. , Place peppers on a baking sheet; broil 4 in. from the heat until skins blister, about 4 minutes. With tongs, rotate peppers a quarter turn. Broil and rotate until all sides are blistered and blackened. Immediately place peppers in a bowl; cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Peel off and discard charred skin. Remove stems and seeds. Chop peppers and set aside., Drain and rinse pinto beans, discarding liquid. Return beans to the Dutch oven. Add 6 cups water and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender., Meanwhile, crumble chorizo into a skillet; cook over medium heat for 6-8 minutes or until fully cooked. Drain and set aside. In the same skillet, melt lard. Add onion and reserved peppers; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. , Add the chorizo, pepper mixture and salt to beans. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Just before serving, stir in cilantro.

TRADITIONAL ACHIOTE RECADO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring water and achiote seeds to a boil. Cook seeds, covered, at a bare simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat. (Steep seeds 2 hours, or until softened.)
• Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast garlic and onion, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes. Discard garlic skins.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast oregano over moderate heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes and transfer to a small bowl. Cool oregano completely and in an electric coffee/spice grinder grind fine.
• Drain seeds and in a blender or food processor blend with garlic, onion, oregano, and remaining ingredients until smooth. (Recado may be made 5 days ahead and chilled and covered.)

FRIJOLES (MEXICAN STYLE PINTO BEANS)

Steps:

• Soak beans according to package directions; drain.
• Heat oil in stock pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Add salt pork; cook 2 minutes, until browned.
• Reduce heat to medium; add onions and chile and cook 4 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
• Add drained beans, water and cumin seed.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Add salt and continue to cook 25 to 35 minutes more, until tender.
• (Can be made ahead. Cool. Transfer to large microwaveproof container. Cover and refrigerate overnight. To reheat: Microwave on high 10 minutes, stirring once after 5 minutes, until heated through.) Makes 7 cups.
• Refries Beans (frijoles refritos):.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or lard in large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onion and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until browned.
• Add 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic and cook 30 seconds.
• Add 2 cups cooked beans and 1/3 to 1/2 cup bean liquid to skilet.
• (Or, microwave 2 cups refrigerated beans and 1/3 to 1/2 cup bean liquid on High, 2 to 3 minutes, until room temperature, and add to skillet).
• Mash beans and liquid coarsely with back of wooden spoon or potato masher.
• Cook 1 to 2 minutes more, untilheated through, addingmore bean liquid or water if needed.
• Transfer beans to a food processor.
• Process just until smooth.
• Makes 2 cups (4 servings).

FRIJOLES REFRITOS

Steps:

• Heat the lard in a skillet over low heat, add the beans, and cook, mashing and stirring, until quite dry and a wooden spoon pulled through the center of the beans forms a long canyon, 15 to 20 minutes.
• If preparing the beans central Mexico-style, serve immediately, topped with a little cheese, if desired. If preparing rolled beans, continue to cook until the mass of beans pulls away from the side of the skillet. Shake the pan back and forth, sliding the beans to one side, then tilt the pan so the mass of beans flips over into a roll, like an omelet. A spatula may be used to help turn it. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with the cheese and onion, and accompany with the totopos.

FRIJOLES I

Steps:

• Soak pinto beans overnight in 1 quart of water.
• Place beans into a large saucepan, and add water to cover. Add onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat until beans are tender, about 1 to 2 hours. Add additional water to the pan as needed to prevent burning.
• Mash the beans with a potato masher, and mix in the butter. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and the butter is absorbed. Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the bean mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish, and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

FRIJOLES REFRITOS (CLASSIC MEXICAN REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Mash the beans in a bowl.
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add the onion and the garlic; cook and stir until onion is deep golden, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the mashed beans and cook for about one minute.
• Add salt to taste.
• Makes about one pint.

FRIJOLES DE OLLA

Steps:

• Measure water and lard into a large pot. Bring to a boil and add beans. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Season with salt and continue cooking until tender, about 30 more minutes.

TACOS DORADOS DE FRIJOLES

Steps:

• Put enough oil in a large skillet and heat on medium.
• In the meantime, warm the tortillas using a washcloth to wrap them and nuke them for 20 seconds.
• When tortillas are soft and pliable, put 2-3 tbsp of the refried beans in the center, and fold them without breaking the botom of the tortilla.
• When the oil is hot enough, fry the tacos in batches, to the desired browness, and drain over a paper towel.
• Serve hot, with all the garnishes mentioned.

BURRITOS CON FRIJOLES REFRITOS

Steps:

• Warm the tortillas in a 300 degree oven.
• In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon lard.
• Add the onion and fry until transparent but not brown.
• Add tomato and 1 cup beans.
• Mash well as they heat.
• Add a second cup of beans, another tablespoon of lard and continue in this manner until all the beans are mashed, moist, creamy and hot.
• Season with garlic salt to taste.
• Divide the beans between the tortillas.
• Roll and place them in a shallow baking dish.
• Top with Grated cheese and heat in a moderate oven until the cheese has melted.
• Serve with burrito sauce.

FRIJOLES II

Steps:

• Place the beans, sugar, garlic, onion, and bacon into a slow cooker. Pour in the water, cover, and cook on High for 6 hours. Drain off 2/3 of the liquid, and discard bacon. Use a potato masher to mash beans to a chunky consistency. Season with salt to taste, and serve hot.

FRIJOLES REFRITOS (REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Combine water, pinto beans, and garlic into a large pot and cover; Cook over low heat for 5 1/2 hours; stir salt into beans and continue cooking until beans are very soft, about 30 minutes more.
• Heat canola oil in a skillet over high heat. Spoon the beans into the skillet without draining excess water; mash beans using a potato masher until they begin to lose their shape, about 3 minutes.

FRIJOLES III

Steps:

• Place beans in a large pot with onion, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, garlic, and lard; add enough water to cover with 4 to 5 inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for 2 to 3 hours. Depending on the beans, it may take up to 5 hours. Add more water if necessary.
• When beans are soft, season to taste with salt.