Beans Ala Charra Recipes

CHARRO BEANS - AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Add the rinsed beans to a large pot with plenty of water, salt, and a small piece of onion.
• Let boil for about 1.5 hours, checking often to make sure that there is still enough water.
• Add the rinsed beans to a slow cooker with plenty of water, salt, and a small piece of onion.
• Turn the slow cooker on to high and heat for 3 hours.
• Add the bacon to a large pot and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add the chorizo and continue cooking until cooked through.
• After about 5 minutes, add the ham, the beef franks, and the seasonings (including the garlic).
• Next, add the tomatoes, the cilantro, the onion, the jalapeno, and the chipotle pepper and cook for 5 additional minutes.
• Finally, add the cooked pinto beans and the water that they were cooked in and let boil for about 15 minutes so that all of the flavors can combine.
• If you want to thicken your charro beans, you can combine 2 tablespoons of corn starch with 1/4 cup of cold water and mix well before adding it to the pot.
• Serve hot as a side dish or on its own.

PINTOS A LA PAPA

Steps:

• Sort through the beans and remove any stones. To soak the beans, put them in a large bowl, cover them with cold water and allow them to soak, covered, overnight. Or use the quick-soak method below.
• Quick-soak method: Put the beans in a colander and rinse under water. Put the beans in a large pot and add enough water to cover the beans by at least 3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the beans stand for 1 hour.
• Drain and rinse the soaked beans and transfer them to a large pot. Add enough water to cover the beans by at least 3 inches. Add the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic, jalapeno, bay leaf and onion to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to bring it to a simmer. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, 2 to 3 1/2 hours.

FRIJOLES A LA CHARRA

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a slow cooker, and completely cover with water. Mix in garlic and salt. Cover, and cook 1 hour on High.
• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium high heat until evenly brown, but still tender. Drain about half the fat. Place onion in the skillet, and cook until tender. Mix in tomatoes and jalapenos, and cook until heated through. Transfer to the slow cooker, stirring into the beans.
• Cover slow cooker, and continue cooking 4 hours on Low. Mix in the beer and cilantro about 30 minutes before the end of the cook time.

BEANS A LA CHARRA

Steps:

• Sort through the beans and rinse them in cold water. In a large stockpot set over high heat, boil the beans in the 12 cups water for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let the beans soak for 1 hour. Roast the poblano chile with a kitchen torch, over a gas burner, or under an oven broiler until evenly charred. Rinse it in cold water to remove the charred skin, then stem, seed, and chop it into small dice; set aside.
• Place the ancho chiles in a medium bowl and cover with hot water. Use a plate or small bowl to weigh down the chiles, keeping them submerged. Soak them until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain the chiles, reserving 1/4 cup of the soaking water. Puree the softened chiles and the reserved chile soaking water in the jar of a blender or the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Use a wooden spoon to push the pureed chiles through a strainer and into a bowl; set aside.
• In a large skillet, brown the bacon over medium heat until crisp; drain on paper towels. In the same skillet, sauté the onions, jalapeños, garlic, and poblano in the bacon fat over medium heat. Add the onion mixture to the beans and their soaking water in the stockpot.
• Add the tomatoes, pureed ancho chiles, salt, and beer. Bring the beans to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook, uncovered, until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Crumble the cooked bacon and stir into the beans. Serve warm in small bowls, sprinkled with cilantro.
• do it early
• The beans can be made up to 5 days in advance and refrigerated.

BEANS ALA CHARRA

Steps:

• In pot, soak beans over night in the water to cover the beans.
• The next day, cook the bacon until crisp, over medium heat until done, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño; cook for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the chili powder and the cumin and cook for 1 minute.
• Add 1 cup of the water from the beans to this to loosen the crispy crumbs and put all in the beans. Bring beans to a boil; turn to med low and cook until tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are soft.
• When beans are cooked, add the salt and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Keep warm until ready to serve.

HACIENDA COLORADO-STYLE BEANS ALA CHARRA

Steps:

• Sort beans and remove any debris.
• Add beans to water in pressure cooker.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Soak overnight.
• Add the rest of the salt to taste, bacon, onion, and garlic powder.
• Pressure cook beans until tender, but firm.
• Cooking times will vaary with altitude, but 15-20 minutes on a medium rock will cook them well.
• Run cool water over pressure cooker lid before removing lid.
• Wait for vents to drop before rotating the lid from the pot.
• Add tomatos and cilantro.
• Stir and simmer on low until heated through.
• Add liquid smoke, if desired.

NINFA'S FRIJOLES A LA CHARRA SOUP

Steps:

• Bring beans and liquid to a boil in a pot.
• In a small skillet,saute tomatoes,onions,and jalapeno with bacon.
• Remove skillet from heat and drain excess fat.
• Add bacon mixture to boiling beans.
• When soup comes to a boil again, add cilantro and lemon juice.
• Simmer 5 minutes and serve.