Rick Bayless Home Cooked Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros Recipes

EASY COWBOY BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

Steps:

• Combine pinto beans, tomatoes with green chile peppers, ham, cilantro, red onion, garlic, black pepper, and hot sauce in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour.

DRUNKEN PINTOS WITH CILANTRO AND BACON (RICK BAYLESS)

Steps:

• BEANS:.
• Sort and rinse the beans thoroughly. Scoop into a 4 quart saucepan.
• Add 5 cups water; remove any beans that float.
• Add the cubed pork (or extra chopped bacon) and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and gently simmer, partially covered, until tender, about 2 hours.
• Stir gently occasionally, and keep water level a good 1/2 inch above the level of the beans.
• FLAVORINGS:.
• In a medium skillet, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon but leave behind the drippings.
• Pour off all the drippings except 2 Tablespoons.
• Return pan to medium heat.
• Add the onions and chiles and fry until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Scrape the onion mixture into the beans; taste and season with salt.
• Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes to blend the flavors.
• If the beans seem soupy, boil over medium heat until they are the consistency of a nice brothy bean soup.
• You can also take 1/4 of the beans and run them through the blender with a bit of broth, then return to pan.
• Just before serving, stir in the tequila and cilantro.
• Serve in warm bowls topped with the crumbled bacon.

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.

FRIJOLES CHARROS RAPIDOS (QUICK COWBOY BEANS)

Steps:

• In a large (4 quart) saucepan, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring frequently until crisp, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for a minute, then add the tomatoes with their juice. Cook, stirring regularly, for 3 to 4 minutes to blend the flavors. Add the beans, with their liquid, and simmer over medium low heat for about 15 minutes.
• While the beans are simmering, stem the chilis, cut in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Chop into small pieces and add to the beans. Taste and season with salt, if needed. Ladle into small bowls, sprinkle with the cilantro and serve.

RICK BAYLESS HOME-COOKED COWBOY BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

Steps:

• Instructions Pour beans into a colander and rinse. Look over beans and make sure they are clean and free of any stones or dirt that might have made its way into the bag. Place beans and approximately 2 quarts (8 cups) of water into a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, carefully transfer the beans and water into a slow-cooker. Add oil, onion, and season with about 1/2 tablespoon of salt. Cook for at least 6 hours on high, although you can leave for a few hours more. I've also had success cooking them on low for 10-12 hours if that works better for you. When beans in the slow cooker are ready, cook the bacon in a large pot over medium/medium-low heat until crisp, stirring to avoid burning. Once bacon is crispy, remove some of the bacon grease, leaving only about 1 tablespoon in the pot. Don't throw away that liquid gold! Store in refrigerator for future use. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the can of fire-roasted tomatoes and a pinch of salt, and with a wooden spoon, scrape up any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan from cooking the bacon. Let mixture cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the beans with a slotted spoon, and then add enough of its cooking liquid to cover the entire mixture. Add the pickled jalapeño (1/2 cup will definitely give you a nice kick, so use less or more according to your spiciness threshold) and simmer on medium-low for about 20-30 minutes. Taste and season.