Tex-mex Pinto Beans
"This is my take on pinto beans served at a popular Tex-Mex restaurant in Dallas, and they are an inexpensive dish to serve guests at a dinner party. You can soak the beans overnight before cooking them, or try the quick method listed in the instructions."
- 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.
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Reviews
-
These beans are the best I've ever tasted and are the perfect companion to T.D.F. Fajitas on this website. Easy to prepare and scrumptuous!! Like another chef reviewer on this recipe, I used canned crushed tomatoes in lieu of the romas and it was still wonderful! -
Used canned tomatoes--the spice is wonderful, toasting is the key.
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.
