Frijoles Recipes

FRIJOLES (MEXICAN STYLE PINTO BEANS)

Steps:

• Soak beans according to package directions; drain.
• Heat oil in stock pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Add salt pork; cook 2 minutes, until browned.
• Reduce heat to medium; add onions and chile and cook 4 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
• Add drained beans, water and cumin seed.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Add salt and continue to cook 25 to 35 minutes more, until tender.
• (Can be made ahead. Cool. Transfer to large microwaveproof container. Cover and refrigerate overnight. To reheat: Microwave on high 10 minutes, stirring once after 5 minutes, until heated through.) Makes 7 cups.
• Refries Beans (frijoles refritos):.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or lard in large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onion and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until browned.
• Add 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic and cook 30 seconds.
• Add 2 cups cooked beans and 1/3 to 1/2 cup bean liquid to skilet.
• (Or, microwave 2 cups refrigerated beans and 1/3 to 1/2 cup bean liquid on High, 2 to 3 minutes, until room temperature, and add to skillet).
• Mash beans and liquid coarsely with back of wooden spoon or potato masher.
• Cook 1 to 2 minutes more, untilheated through, addingmore bean liquid or water if needed.
• Transfer beans to a food processor.
• Process just until smooth.
• Makes 2 cups (4 servings).

FRIJOLES I

Steps:

• Soak pinto beans overnight in 1 quart of water.
• Place beans into a large saucepan, and add water to cover. Add onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat until beans are tender, about 1 to 2 hours. Add additional water to the pan as needed to prevent burning.
• Mash the beans with a potato masher, and mix in the butter. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and the butter is absorbed. Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the bean mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish, and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

FRIJOLES II

Steps:

• Place the beans, sugar, garlic, onion, and bacon into a slow cooker. Pour in the water, cover, and cook on High for 6 hours. Drain off 2/3 of the liquid, and discard bacon. Use a potato masher to mash beans to a chunky consistency. Season with salt to taste, and serve hot.

FRIJOLES DE LA OLLA

Steps:

• Drain and rinse the beans and combine with 3 quarts water or enough to cover the beans by 2 inches and add the bay leaves. Bring to a boil, simmer. After 1 hour add the chilies, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking 2 to 3 more hours until beans are soft, but not falling apart. Serve the beans in their liquid.

FRIJOLES BORRACHOS

Steps:

• To prepare the beans, put the beans in a pot, add 3 times their volume in water. Cover and cook over low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the beans are tender. If needed, add more warm water.
• Meanwhile, heat the lard in a large, deep, and heavy skillet, over a medium high heat. Add the onions and fry until lightly browned. Add the tomatoes, chilies, and cilantro. Add the cooked beans, salt, and beer. Continue to cook, uncovered, over low heat until the mixture thickens, about 45 minutes.
• Pour the hot beans into a decorative clay or ceramic serving dish. Serve with roasted meat and corn or flour tortillas.

FRIJOLES BORRACHOS: DRUNKEN BEANS

Steps:

• Wash the beans thoroughly in cold water, discarding any stones or rotten beans.
• Place the beans in a wide, short saucepot (rondeau), and cover with water by 2 inches. Cook for 30 minutes, and then, add the tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, and beer. Cook until the beans are tender, about another 30 minutes.
• With a potato masher, crush the beans, to thicken the bean liquid. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

FRIJOLES III

Steps:

• Place beans in a large pot with onion, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, garlic, and lard; add enough water to cover with 4 to 5 inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for 2 to 3 hours. Depending on the beans, it may take up to 5 hours. Add more water if necessary.
• When beans are soft, season to taste with salt.

REFRIED BEANS: FRIJOLES REFRITOS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring the beans to a boil in 8 cups water. Let boil for 15 minutes and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Drain beans in a colander and rinse. Wash out the pot and return the beans to the pot with 8 cups fresh water. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook until tender, about 2 hours over low heat.
• In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper, and cook for a few minutes to allow flavors to integrate. Drain beans and add to pan, mashing the ingredients together. Heat through and serve with minced cilantro or minced parsley sprinkled on top.

FRIJOLES CHARROS

Steps:

• Cook the beans the normal way.
• Separate the beans and the juice.
• In another pot put the juice; add the tomato and the onion.
• Cut the bacon in small pieces and the sausage too.
• Put the bacon and the sausage in the microwave for 1 minute on medium.
• Put in the pot the bacon and the sausage.
• Boil, all together, do not add water yet.
• Add some Tabasco or chili powder if you have.
• Boil it until the sousa has the flavor of the bacon and the sausage.
• Then add a lit bit of water, and let it boil for 1 minute.
• Then add the beans, and let it boil for 3 minutes.
• Keep stirring it.

FRIJOLES DE FIESTA (FIESTA REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a large pot and cover with 14 cups water. Add the onion and set over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, skim off any foam that may have risen to the top, partly cover with a lid and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid, stir in salt, partly cover with the lid, and cook for another 15 to 30 more minutes, until beans are completely cooked through and tender and the liquid is tinted from the pinto beans.
• Meanwhile, place the dried chiles in a small saucepan, cover with water and set over high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until chiles have rehydrated, softened and plumped up.
• Remove the lid on the beans, and, using a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs, discard the onion.
• Working in batches if needed, add the cooked beans along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, the dried chiles, the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce to a blender or food processor, and pulse until the mixture forms a coarse purée.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy casserole or sauté pan set over medium. Once hot but not smoking, carefully add the bean purée, as it will strongly sizzle and splatter. Stir well, incorporating the hot oil into the bean mixture. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan as the refried beans continuously attempt to create a crust, until the mixture thickens.
• Stir in the grated cheese, and continue to cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom and the sides, until the mixture thickens to a thick purée that holds its shape, and a clear trail can be traced in the bottom of the pan.
• When ready to serve, scrape into a bowl and garnish with the crumbled Cotija. Beans will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a saucepan or skillet with a couple tablespoons of water over medium and mash as they warm up, since they have a tendency to thicken once chilled.

CHARRO BEANS (FRIJOLES CHARROS)

Steps:

• Place ham hocks into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Boil until meat pulls back on bone, about 2 hours. Remove meat from bones, cut into bite-sized chunks. Reserve the bones but discard any fat.
• Chop 1/2 of the white onion, and leave other 1/2 whole; set aside.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, and chop when cool enough to handle. Pour bacon grease into a small bowl.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chorizo in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Place chorizo into a bowl with chopped bacon, tomatoes, chopped onion, and jalapenos.
• Place ham chunks and bones into a large pot, pour pinto beans over top. Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium or medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, heat bacon grease in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chorizo and vegetable mixture and saute until vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
• When beans boil, add the remaining onion half and garlic. Let boil for 3 to 4 minutes; add sauteed vegetables and meat. Return to a boil; add cilantro and chicken bouillon. Continue to boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove bones, season with salt, and serve.

FRIJOLES

Steps:

• The night before, put the beans in the pot you will use, and fill the pot to the top with water.
• In the morning, drain the water.
• Add fresh water, to a height of 4# over the beans.
• Add the pork, onion, garlic, and seasonings.
• Simmer on low on the stove all day, or in a crockpot.
• You may need to add water.
• The beans are done when they are soft if you smoosh one between you finger and thumb.
• It won't hurt them to cook longer, because even if they get mooshy they have their uses!
• If you should burn the beans, immediately drain them and switch to a new pot with new water.
• Add one raw potato, cut in half, to the beans.
• When the beans are done toss the potato, because the burnt taste will be in it.

FRIJOLES REFRITOS (CLASSIC MEXICAN REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Mash the beans in a bowl.
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add the onion and the garlic; cook and stir until onion is deep golden, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the mashed beans and cook for about one minute.
• Add salt to taste.
• Makes about one pint.

FRIJOLES DE LA OLLA

Steps:

• Rinse and sort the beans, discarding any broken pieces. Put in an olla or large, heavy pot, add 3 quarts water, and bring to a boil over high heat. This may take from 10 minutes in an enameled cast iron Dutch oven to 30 minutes in the traditional clay pot. When the water begins to bubble, immediately lower the heat to a gentle simmer and add the onion, garlic, and lard. Cover partially and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 hours. If the beans are not covered by at least 1 inch of water, add hot water. Add the epazote or cilantro, stir in the salt, and continue to simmer until the beans are almost soft, maybe 2 hours more. The centers of these beans should not be al dente.
• Taste and add more salt if needed, then remove the pot from the heat and spoon out and discard the onion, garlic, and herb sprigs. The beans are now ready to eat, though they will have even better flavor if allowed to sit for at least a few hours-or better yet, overnight- before reheating and serving. (They should be transferred to a storage container with the broth, covered, and stored in the refrigerator, where they will keep for at least 4 days.)
• Serve the beans in small bowls with plenty of the soupy broth and a dollop of the salsa, if desired. These beans can also be used to prepare other bean dishes, such as Frijoles Chinos o Fritos, Frijoles Puercos, or Frijoles Charros.

FRIJOLES REFRITOS (REFRIED BEANS)

Steps:

• Combine water, pinto beans, and garlic into a large pot and cover; Cook over low heat for 5 1/2 hours; stir salt into beans and continue cooking until beans are very soft, about 30 minutes more.
• Heat canola oil in a skillet over high heat. Spoon the beans into the skillet without draining excess water; mash beans using a potato masher until they begin to lose their shape, about 3 minutes.