Best Damn Borracho Beans Period!

Name: Best Damn Borracho Beans Period!
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 10-12 serving(s)
Ingredients: 907.18-1360.77 g pinto beans; 2 small white onions; 2 fresh jalapenos (optional); 6 garlic cloves, minced; 4 small roma tomatoes; 59.14 ml fresh cilantro, chopped; 3 smoked ham hocks; 14.79 ml chili powder; 4.92 ml garlic powder; 4.92 ml onion powder; 9.85 ml paprika; 14.79 ml black pepper; 22.18 ml kosher salt; 14.79 ml cumin; 2 table spoons bacon drippings; 907.18 g chicken stock; 340.19 g dark beer (optional)

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Submitted by Texas Pete

"This is a recipe I have been working on for years I think I have finally got it. Updated 5/5/19"

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photo by skiprutherford

Ready In:: 2hrs 30mins
Ingredients:: 17
Serves:: 10

ingredients

907.18-1360.77 g pinto beans
2 small white onions
2 fresh jalapenos (optional)
6 garlic cloves, minced
4 small roma tomatoes
59.14 ml fresh cilantro, chopped
3 smoked ham hocks
14.79 ml chili powder
4.92 ml garlic powder
4.92 ml onion powder
9.85 ml paprika
14.79 ml black pepper
22.18 ml kosher salt
14.79 ml cumin
2 table spoons bacon drippings
907.18 g chicken stock
340.19 g dark beer (optional)

directions

Soak your beans. (This very important if you want tender beans). Bring beans to boil in 8-10 cups of water. Remove from heat covered. Let the beans soak for 1 hour.
Strain the beans, and discard water. Bring another 8 cups of water, and 32 ounces of chicken stock to a boil.
While beans are starting to boil, trim the ham hocks of fat; leave fat in large pieces. Cut the meat into small bite-size pieces. Put all into pot. (Remove fat and bones when your beans are done.).
Cut veggies into small pieces, then combine veggies, meat, fat, and spices into large stock pot or dutch oven and simmer for at least 2 1/2 hours, or until tender. Remove fat when finished. Taste, add more seasoning if needed.

Questions & Replies

Super confused by this recipe... 1. In the third paragraph, are we straining the water after the beans are done? Or keeping that water in the pot? It talks about doing that second boil to get excess dirt and debris out of the beans but it sounds like we keep the water in the pot? 2. Where does the beer and chicken stock come in? I know the beer is listed as optional. But the chicken stock isn’t even listed in the instructions, only on the ingredients list. The ingredients make it sound delicious, but the recipe is extremely unclear.

Kristin R.
Can you convert this to using an instant pot and if so how would you go about it?

vcibarra1975
1 to 2 lbs of beans? Is that mean if you want soupier you would use 2 lbs and thicker 3 lbs? Thanks,

Dan P.
Do you have an InstaPot version of this recipe? Please post or send

Gilda B.
Making the borracho beans. It does not say if I put the lid on them to simmer for 21/2 hrs??anyone know this answer

lynn.franklin04

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Reviews

This makes a very nice pot of beans but technically they are NOT Borracho Beans. Borracho in Spanish means "drunk" and these beans have no beer in them. Use a can of beer in place of some of your water and you will have true, savory, Borracho Beans.

bmillerranch
YUM! I cut the recipe in half and it still made a ton......

meganalissa
Really great recipe. I substituted thick cut bacon for the ham hocks and it turned out great. It's a keeper!

cincat03
The instructions on this recipe are very confusing. After making them once I've decided to write my own instructions for next time, because these are very good beans! INSTRUCTIONS: Rinse and clean beans. Pour the beans in a stockpot in 8-10 cups of water. Bring beans to a boil. Remove from heat, cover pan and set aside. Let the beans soak for 1 hour. Pour beans and water into a strainer, and discard the soaking water. In the empty pan, bring another 8 cups of water, and 32 ounces of chicken stock to a boil. Add the softened beans to the pot. While beans are starting to boil, trim the ham hocks of fat; leave fat in large pieces. Cut the meat into small bite-size pieces. Put all into stockpot. Cut onion and garlic into small pieces and sautee; in the bacon drippings. Once sauteed, add onions and garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, spices, and beer into the boiling stockpot. Turn heat down and simmer for at least 2 1/2 hours, or until tender. Remove ham hocks fat and bones when finished. Taste, add more seasoning if needed.

supersolid8
this recipe was awesome, despite what _some_ people think about beer as an ingredient. they came out PERFECT, and without soaking them for 8 hours!! (as some recipes instruct.) i made half the recipe, though, and still have a whole bowl left. and... yes, i added the beer ;)

berdzz

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Tweaks

I made a vegetarian version of these beans. I also had to make it yeast-free for my kid,so, no beer ( so, yes, the original recipe is a true borracho version) Instead of ham and drippings, I used coconut oil and I used vegetable instead of chicken stock. I agree that the directions are fuzzy. I cooked the beans for the 30 mins and drained and added more water to simmer as directed. While the beans cooked, I melted the coconut oil in a separate pan and first fried dried chili peppers for a few seconds before adding onions and garlic. I let the onions cook until soft and then added the rest. I only used a 1 tsp of pepper instead of a tablespoon. I then let the resulting sauce simmer for about 30 mins before adding to beans (water in pot had reduced enough to allow the room in my dutch oven) and simmered until beans were cooked through. The result was still better than anything I've had at a Mexican restaurant!

ShelleyEdwards
My wife thought these were great! I substituted diced tomatoes with green chiles for the Roma tomatoes. No chicken stock. Turned out great! Definitely a keeper !

rdwoerner
This makes a very nice pot of beans but technically they are NOT Borracho Beans. Borracho in Spanish means "drunk" and these beans have no beer in them. Use a can of beer in place of some of your water and you will have true, savory, Borracho Beans.

bmillerranch