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A blue and white checkered tablecloth with a pot of beans on it
Kate Ramos

Frijoles Charros

This hearty frijoles charros recipe is meatier than most bean recipes. Brimming with smoky bacon, flavor-packed chorizo, and tender beans, it’s as delicious as it is satisfying. Feel free to other meats like hot dogs or ham to the beans, too, and serve it with carne asada for a filling meat-lovers meal.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Soaking Time 8 hours
Total Time 11 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Course: Pinto Bean recipes
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 109

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Soak beans. Place the beans in a colander and rinse them well. Remove any discolored or broken beans and any rocks that may have made their way into the bag. Place beans in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak overnight. If you are short on time you can skip this step but it cuts down signifcantly on the cook time.
  2. Cook bacon. The next day, heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, about 4 minutes. Remove bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon leaving the bacon grease behind. Transfer to a bowl.
  3. Sauté chorizo and vegetables. Add chorizo to the pan and brown over medium heat, stirring ocassionally. Once chorizo has become firm and started to release its fat (about 3-4 minutes) add onion and garlic and saute, stirring ocassionally, until onions are translucent.
  4. Add tomatoes and spices. Add tomatoes, cumin, coriander, oregano, and salt to the pot and cook, stirring ocassionally to blend the flavors.
  5. Add beans. Drain the beans from the soaking water and give them a rinse. Add them to the pot along with the water, chorizo, and bacon. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring ocassionally to make sure no beans are sticking to the bottom of the pot.
  6. Simmer. Reduce the heat to low so the beans are slowly simmering. Cover and cook until beans are tender, stirring ocassionally. This will take anywhere from 1- 3 hours depending on if you soaked them overnight or not.
  7. Serve. Once the beans are tender, stir in the jalapeños and cilantro. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Ladle into small bowls and top with more chopped cilantro if you'd like.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 10gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 29mgFiber: 3g

Video

Notes

    1. Make Ahead Instructions—Freezing: These beans freeze wonderfully! Freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator the day before eating, then reheat on the stove until warm.
    2. Slow Cooker Instructions: These beans can be easily made in the slow cooker. You will need to cut the water amount. See post for complete details.
    3. Pinto Beans: Soaking the beans overnight reduces the cooking time, but if you're short on time, you can skip this step.
    4. Tomatoes: Use fresh Roma tomatoes when they are ripe and in season. Otherwise, substitute a 15-ounce can diced tomatoes. For a smokier flavor, consider using fire-roasted diced tomatoes.

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