Frijoles Charros

FRIJOLES CHARROS

This is a Mexican dish that I have made to my own preference. Its one of my favorite foods and goes very well with fresh and warm flour tortillas. 

You will notice a lack of measurements... truth be told I don't measure much unless I am baking. This kind of stuff you just feel in your soul. 

You may know someone who makes this dish and does it a bit different but this is the way I prefer to make it. 

Hope you give it a try and I hope you like it!

INGREDIENTS:

1. pinto beans (how ever many you need to feed your family sorted & cleaned) 
2. chicken broth (you want it to come up about 5 inches over the beans)
3. 1-lb bacon (chopped)
4. garlic (to taste I like a LOT)
5. jalepeno (use 1 or more depending on your spice tolerance)
6. 2-3 chipotle peppers (dried)
7. 1 small onion (chopped)
8. cilantro (chopped and to taste)
9. 1 large or 2 small tomatoes (diced)
10. 1-2 lime juice and zest
11. cumin ( to taste)
12. salt & pepper (to taste)
13. badia complete seasoning (to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Allow your clean pinto beans to soak in water for a few hours or up to 24 hours. 
2. Drain soaking liquid and rinse beans.
3. In cooking device ( I tend to use a crock pot or pressure cooker depending on the day) add beans, chicken broth, chipotles, and seasonings. 
4. Allow to cook. If using a crock pot, cook on high for 4 hours. If using a pressure cooker cook for 30-40 minutes.
5. While the beans are cooking.. in a skillet cook bacon on med high heat to render out fat. Don't cook to the point of being too crispy.  Once done remove bacon and set aside. Keep 3 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
6. In the pan you used to cook the bacon saute the onions and jalepenos in the bacon grease. Cook until soft.
7. At this point add in tomatoes and garlic cook for 2-3 minutes. 
8. Once the beans are fully cooked check if you need more liquid. This is supposed to be soupy so if you need more broth add it now.
9. Taste the beans and soup for seasoning and adjust as necessary.
10. At this point add in the bacon, and vegetables. 
11. Add chopped cilantro.
12. Continue to cook about 10 minutes more.
13. Add in lime juice and zest and more cilantro if desired. 
14. Remove the whole chipotles before serving.