Beans are a staple at my house. They’re cheap, healthy, and my kids love them.
I think my favorite way to eat them is in chili. Soak small red or black beans (or ideally half a pound of each) for a few hours.
Trim 1.5 pounds stew beef, add black pepper and salt. Brown in pan. Add in onion and fresh peppers (bell, poblano, jalapeno, serrano) and cook until onions are clear.
Pour a beer in there, Modelo works great. Add the beans. Add a can of chipotles in adobo sauce. Don’t bother chopping, they’ll break down. Add a jar of salsa. Add water to cover the beans. Add chili powder, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, and more salt & pepper to taste.
Simmer until the beans are fully cooked, probably around a couple hours. Serve with tortilla chips or corn bread.
And before anyone says “beans don’t belong in chili,” they absolutely do.
I’m always on the lookout for more ways to cook beans. What’s your favorite?
Curried refrieed. I normally ‘cheat’ with cans. Adjust for what you have.
a bit of oil/butter, cook a couple garlic cloves. Then throw some whole mustard seed in until they start to pop, some toast some whole cumin, then corriander until it snells good. I didn’t use termeric last tine but that goes well too. Then add pinto beans, until warm and snash.
lentils do well too.
note that I didn’t give amounts. I have done this so often that I can follow the dump the right anount in plan.
Basically an Indian Dal, but with whatever beans you want instead of just lentils?
I combined Mexican and Indian traditions there in ways that I doubt either would be willing to claim as their own. Which makes this an American dish I guess. Whatever, it is good and you should try it.