Frijoles Recipes

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 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 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 BORRACHOS

Steps:

• Stir 2 tablespoons salt into 3 quarts warm water in a large bowl until dissolved. Add the beans, cover with plastic and let sit at room temperature for 8 hours and up to 24. Drain and set aside until ready to use.
• Heat a large Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crispy and deep golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon with a slotted spoon to a small bowl, leaving as much fat in the pot as possible.
• Add the chiles, garlic, onions and 4 teaspoons salt to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has almost completely evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the beans, lager, bacon, and 10 cups cold water to the pot and simmer uncovered, stirring and skimming occasionally, adding more boiling water if needed, until the beans are tender, 45 to 75 minutes.
• Remove the beans from the heat and stir in the cilantro. Let the beans sit for 10 minutes before serving.

CHARRO BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

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.

TEXAS-STYLE SLOW-COOKED FRIJOLES

Steps:

• Pour pinto beans into the bottom of a big saucepan or soup pot. Add water, bacon, jalapenos, cilantro, and garlic and bring to a simmer, about 10 minutes. Pour in 1 can light beer when beans are warmed.
• Simmer beans, stirring every couple of minutes, until bacon has completely cooked down and beans begin to break, 3 to 6 hours total. Pour in remaining beer as needed when liquid has evaporated and beans aren't completely covered, roughly every 2 hours. Cover and keep warm until serving.

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.

FRIJOLES BORRACHOS: DRUNKEN BEANS

Steps:

• Wash the beans thoroughly in cold water, discarding any stones or rotten beans.
• Place the beans in a wide, short saucepot (rondeau), and cover with water by 2 inches. Cook for 30 minutes, and then, add the tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, and beer. Cook until the beans are tender, about another 30 minutes.
• With a potato masher, crush the beans, to thicken the bean liquid. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

FRIJOLES BORRACHOS

Steps:

• To prepare the beans, put the beans in a pot, add 3 times their volume in water. Cover and cook over low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the beans are tender. If needed, add more warm water.
• Meanwhile, heat the lard in a large, deep, and heavy skillet, over a medium high heat. Add the onions and fry until lightly browned. Add the tomatoes, chilies, and cilantro. Add the cooked beans, salt, and beer. Continue to cook, uncovered, over low heat until the mixture thickens, about 45 minutes.
• Pour the hot beans into a decorative clay or ceramic serving dish. Serve with roasted meat and corn or flour tortillas.

FRIJOLES DE LA OLLA

Steps:

• Add the beans, chiles, avocado leaf, bay leaves, garlic, dried mushrooms, salt and 8 cups water to an electric pressure cooker (such as an Instant Pot), and set to cook for 40 minutes at high pressure.
• During the last few minutes of cooking, lightly char the jalapeños over the open high flame of a gas burner, or sear them on a comal or in a dry, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until blackened and beginning to soften, 3 to 5 minutes over a flame or about 10 minutes in a skillet. Use heatproof tongs to turn occasionally. Once cooked, set aside.
• Once the pressure cooker has completed cooking, carefully release the pressure to open the lid. Taste test at least 5 beans to make sure they are all tender and fully cooked. If any are not, set the machine to its "sauté" function and bring the liquid to a boil. Simmer until the beans are smooth and soft.
• Discard the avocado and bay leaves. If you'd like a more full-bodied broth, transfer the chiles, garlic and 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid to a blender or food processor, blend until completely smooth, and return to the pot of beans. Taste for salt and adjust as needed.
• Warm the tortillas over the open flame of a gas burner or on a comal or in a dry, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until soft. Divide the beans and rehydrated mushrooms among bowls, then top with cilantro, avocado and charred jalapeños. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the avocado slices and serve with the warmed tortillas.

FRIJOLES RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Spray a large skillet with cooking spray.
• Add tomatoes, bell pepper, chiles, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring, until vegetables are softened.
• Adjust heat to low.
• Mix in beans and cook 10-15 minutes, stirring often.
• Serve and sprinkle with cilantro.

FRIJOLES CHARROS

Steps:

• Cook the beans the normal way.
• Separate the beans and the juice.
• In another pot put the juice; add the tomato and the onion.
• Cut the bacon in small pieces and the sausage too.
• Put the bacon and the sausage in the microwave for 1 minute on medium.
• Put in the pot the bacon and the sausage.
• Boil, all together, do not add water yet.
• Add some Tabasco or chili powder if you have.
• Boil it until the sousa has the flavor of the bacon and the sausage.
• Then add a lit bit of water, and let it boil for 1 minute.
• Then add the beans, and let it boil for 3 minutes.
• Keep stirring it.

FRIJOLES DE FIESTA (FIESTA REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a large pot and cover with 14 cups water. Add the onion and set over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, skim off any foam that may have risen to the top, partly cover with a lid and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid, stir in salt, partly cover with the lid, and cook for another 15 to 30 more minutes, until beans are completely cooked through and tender and the liquid is tinted from the pinto beans.
• Meanwhile, place the dried chiles in a small saucepan, cover with water and set over high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until chiles have rehydrated, softened and plumped up.
• Remove the lid on the beans, and, using a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs, discard the onion.
• Working in batches if needed, add the cooked beans along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, the dried chiles, the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce to a blender or food processor, and pulse until the mixture forms a coarse purée.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy casserole or sauté pan set over medium. Once hot but not smoking, carefully add the bean purée, as it will strongly sizzle and splatter. Stir well, incorporating the hot oil into the bean mixture. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan as the refried beans continuously attempt to create a crust, until the mixture thickens.
• Stir in the grated cheese, and continue to cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom and the sides, until the mixture thickens to a thick purée that holds its shape, and a clear trail can be traced in the bottom of the pan.
• When ready to serve, scrape into a bowl and garnish with the crumbled Cotija. Beans will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a saucepan or skillet with a couple tablespoons of water over medium and mash as they warm up, since they have a tendency to thicken once chilled.