Best Charro Beans With Blackened Tomatoes Recipes

SLOW COOKER CHARRO BEANS

Slow Cooker Charro Beans image

I created this slow cooker recipe in an effort to duplicate the charro beans at my favorite local Mexican restaurant. They are a great as a side item, served as bean soup, or served atop rice as a hearty meal.

Provided by Nikki Robinson Brooks

Categories Side Dish

Time 16h45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 pound dry pinto beans, sorted
water as needed
6 slices bacon, chopped
4 medium Roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer (such as Shiner® Bock)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin

Steps:

Place pinto beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let soak, 8 hours to overnight. Rinse and drain.
Place beans in a slow cooker with just enough water to cover.
Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost browned and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, jalapenos, cilantro, and garlic. Saute in bacon drippings for 2 minutes, then slowly pour in the beer. Add salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil. Add this mixture to the beans and water in the slow cooker.
Cook on Low for 8 hours. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 278 calories, Carbohydrate 42.6 g, Cholesterol 7.6 mg, Fat 3.8 g, Fiber 10.3 g, Protein 15.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 762.7 mg, Sugar 3.7 g

CHARRO BEANS WITH BLACKENED TOMATOES

Charro Beans with Blackened Tomatoes image

The word charro refers to the original cowboys of the New World, the Mexican and Spanish men who handled the cattle on the large ranches of Mexico and California, and then Texas and the Southwest. The entire cow culture-the hats, saddles, ropes, boots-was brought here by Spanish explorers and settlers. These men lived a nomadic life that revolved around the search for the best seasonal pastures for their herds. Meals were always prepared over open campfires, giving food a smokiness that is forever associated with cowboy cooking. Beans were a common side dish, and the smoked salt in this recipe helps to replicate those robust and smoky flavors. The beans will hold for one week in the refrigerator, and their versatility makes them handy to have around.

Yield makes 8 tacos

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1 cup dried pinto beans, rinsed 3 times and picked over for rocks
3 cloves garlic
1 small white onion, halved
6 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil (preferably Spanish)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeño chiles, dry-roasted (page 154)
1 pound tomatoes, blackened (page 164) and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon chipotle puree (page 153)
1/2 teaspoon smoked salt (page 163)
1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, toasted and ground (page 165)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
8 (5 1/2-inch) soft yellow corn tortillas (page 13), for serving
Garnish: Strips of soft beef or game jerky (lightly steamed, if dry)

Steps:

To cook the beans, in a large pot, simmer the beans, garlic, 1/2 onion, and the 6 1/2 cups water over medium-low heat, partially covered, until the beans are almost falling apart, 2 to 4 hours. Add water as necessary during cooking so the mixture doesn't dry out. After the beans are cooked, drain the bean liquid into a saucepan and return the beans to the large pot. Over medium heat, reduce the liquid until it is thickened (not too much liquid will be left), about 10 minutes; reserve.
Meanwhile, cut the remaining 1/2 onion into 1/4-inch dice. In a skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat and sauté the diced onion until it begins to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds (don't let the garlic burn); set aside.
Into the pot of cooked beans, stir in the sautéed onion and garlic, chiles, tomatoes, tomato paste, chipotle puree, smoked salt, oregano, cilantro, and the thickened bean juice, and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve immediately, or keep warm in the pan until ready to serve.
To serve, lay the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping on a platter. Divide the filling equally between the tortillas and top with salsa and jerky strips. Grab, fold, and eat right away. Or build your own taco: lay a tortilla, open face, in one hand. Spoon on some filling, top with salsa and jerky strips, and eat right away.