EASY CHARRO BEAN SOUP

EASY CHARRO BEAN SOUP image

Yield 6 people

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/2 pound bacon strips
1/2 cup bacon drippings
1 large onion
1/2 pound cooked ham, diced
1/3 pound chorizo sausage crumbled (I use Johnsonville Chorizo, usually by the Johnsonville Brats) http://www.johnsonville.com/products/chorizo.html
5 (16 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 whole chipotle peppper
3 cloves garlic, pricked with a fork
1 C of water, beef or chicken broth (I use what ever I have in hand).
Salt and Pepper to taste

Steps:

1. Fry bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. With a slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper towels. Reserve 1/2 cup bacon drippings. 2. Place drippings in a large pot, and warm over medium heat. Fry onions until light brown. Stir in ham and chorizo and bacon. Reserve 1 cup of beans, and add the rest to the pot, along with the chipotle and garlic. 3. Mash the reserved beans, then add to the pot. Simmer beans until thick and soupy, about 30 minutes. (If the beans become too dry, stir in water or broth). Season with salt and pepper to taste - Remove chipotle and garlic if you like, and serve. This is even better the 2nd day - so I leave in the chipotle and garlic. Enjoy!!