Bean Boquitas Recipes

BEAN BOQUITAS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mash refried beans with a fork to loosen them.
• Cut tortillas in half. Fill each half with 1 heaping teaspoon of refried beans.
• Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of grated cheese. Fold tortilla over to form a fan shape.
• In a large frying pan, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil until thermometer registers 350*.
• Fry boquitas in batches without crowding, squeezing edges closed with tongs when you turn them, until golden brown, 1-2 minutes on each side.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer boquitas to paper towels to drain. Serve hot with salsa and/or guacamole on the side.

FRIJOLES DE LA OLLA

Steps:

• Rinse and sort the beans, discarding any broken pieces. Put in an olla or large, heavy pot, add 3 quarts water, and bring to a boil over high heat. This may take from 10 minutes in an enameled cast iron Dutch oven to 30 minutes in the traditional clay pot. When the water begins to bubble, immediately lower the heat to a gentle simmer and add the onion, garlic, and lard. Cover partially and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 hours. If the beans are not covered by at least 1 inch of water, add hot water. Add the epazote or cilantro, stir in the salt, and continue to simmer until the beans are almost soft, maybe 2 hours more. The centers of these beans should not be al dente.
• Taste and add more salt if needed, then remove the pot from the heat and spoon out and discard the onion, garlic, and herb sprigs. The beans are now ready to eat, though they will have even better flavor if allowed to sit for at least a few hours-or better yet, overnight- before reheating and serving. (They should be transferred to a storage container with the broth, covered, and stored in the refrigerator, where they will keep for at least 4 days.)
• Serve the beans in small bowls with plenty of the soupy broth and a dollop of the salsa, if desired. These beans can also be used to prepare other bean dishes, such as Frijoles Chinos o Fritos, Frijoles Puercos, or Frijoles Charros.