Tex-mex Pinto Beans
- Ready In:
- 2hrs 15mins
- Ingredients:
- 12
- Serves:
-
10-12
ingredients
- 1 1⁄2 lbs dry pinto beans
- 3⁄4 lb hickory smoked bacon
- 2 cups roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1⁄4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (not a blend)
- 1 1⁄2 tablespoons salt
- 1⁄2 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
- 4 cups water
- 8 cups water
directions
- Wash and clean the beans, then bring them to a boil in 4 cups of water.
- Cook them for 2 minutes, remove from the stove, cover and let them sit for an hour.
- In a skillet, toast the cumin and chile powder over a medium high heat until they become fragrant (takes seconds).
- Put the spices aside and rinse the skillet.
- Cook the bacon in the skillet, saving the fat.
- Remove the bacon and add the onions and garlic, and saute them for a minute.
- Seed and chop the tomatoes and chop the bacon.
- When the beans have soaked an hour, drain them, and add 8 cups of fresh water and all the other ingredients, except the salt.
- Bring the beans to a boil, cover, cut the heat to low, and simmer them for about an hour.
- Remove the lid and check to see there's enough water, which should be about an inch above the beans and stay that way, then add the salt.
- Add more water if necessary.
- Start checking the beans every 15 minutes for doneness.
- To thicken the liquid, reduce it by cooking longer, or mash some of the beans.
Questions & Replies

Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Own a small catering company in Dallas called "Cookin Cowgirls," specializing in Tex-Mex, Southwestern, American regional, BBQ, and tropical foods.
Grew up riding horses, but can hardly haul my big *** up on one now. The name for my company was my brother's idea.
Having been in corporate America for years, now that I'm older, I have zero interest in the rat race, and only work when I have to.
I am a former screenwriter, with 3 movies produced, but prefer cooking.
I'm a movie buff, opera and golden oldies music lover, and a political junkie.
For fun, I read mysteries and thrillers, watch old movies, and play with my birds, who otherwise would chew the condo down around my ears, if left to their own devices. Also, I am working on a Texas sauce/salsa/dressing cookbook I want to self-publish.
I like to read cookbooks, but now mostly collect recipes off the net, especially virtualcities, epicurious, and now, recipezaar.
The cookbook I have used recently the most is "American Classics."
I love to create new recipes and kitchen test them on my hapless friends and relatives. Haven't lost anyone yet!
Re: Food TV shows - I think Iron Chef is irritating, and Emeril is contrived. Would rather watch someone cook who isn't putting on a big performance.