2 cups pinto beans
6 cups water -- or more as needed
12 ounces beer
2 teaspoons bacon drippings -- or peanut oil
1 large onion -- chopped
2 garlic cloves -- minced
2 fresh jalapenos or serranos -- chopped
2 pickled jalapenos -- chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
These drunken beans are good in bean & cheese tamales or refried. Cook 2 1/2 hours.
Pick through beans and rinse them, watching for gravel. Soak beans in water, enough to cover them by several inches overnight.
Drain beans and Cover them with water and beer. Simmer beans uncovered over low heat.
After 1 hour, stir the beans up from the bottom and check the liquid level. If there is not at least an inch more water than beans, add enough hot water-heat in microwave to cover.
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Simmer the beans another 30 minutes, then check them again, adding water as needed.
When the beans are well softened, add the remaining ingredients, and continue simmering. Cook at least 15 more minutes, keeping the level of the water just above the beans. The beans are done when they are soft and creamy but not mushy, with each bean retaining its shape. There should be extra liquid at the completion of the cooking time, although the beans should not be soupy. If you want the liquid a little thicker, squash a few of the beans in the bottom of the pot with a potato or bean masher.
Serve the beans immediately, or cover them and keep them warm for as long as 1 hour. Or let them cool, and refrigerate or freeze them for later use, like making bean and cheese tamales.
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