Chile And Beans Recipe The Easy Way

So here it is! A traditional Mexican-style chile and beans recipe. You'll probably be surprised to know that the spices and the chiles are not the secret to making the perfect bean. The first secret is in the preparation. The second secret is in knowing when to stop cooking.

Making a tasty pot of chili beans isn't really difficult. But it does take a little time and there are a few secrets that produce a taste that can't be beat. Once prepared, this easy vegetarian version of a traditional recipe can be used to fill burritos, top nachos, serve as a side dish or simply replace a main course.

You'll find that this recipe is equally fit to feed a hungry crowd for a large party, as well as it is capable of feeding a small family for many meals. It's economical, healthy and delicious! Get started making great chili beans and get a bigger bang for your grocery buck, the easy way.

The most important consideration will be the preparation of the bean itself. You might be surprised to learn that what goes into the pot for seasoning isn't nearly as important as how the main ingredient is prepped and cooked. Begin with two pounds of dried Pintos. It's important to note that if you want an authentic taste and texture do not be tempted to substitute another bean for the Pinto.

Clean the bean! The soaking process will help clean dried beans but it is essential to sort and remove any stones, dirt, debris and 'bad' looking beans before soaking. This means that you'll actually need to look at each bean! It may seem like a daunting task, but once you've sorted through Pintos a few times, the process becomes easier and faster. Don't skimp, simply sort! Place good Pintos into a Dutch oven or large soup pot and fill the entire pan with water. Soak overnight. Come morning, drain all of the water and rinse the beans with cold water thoroughly. Fill the pot up with water again and soak for another six hours. Drain and rinse thoroughly again with cold water. Be sure to wash the soaking pot and rinse it completely before cooking! Return the soaked Pintos to the pot and again and fill the entire pot with fresh water.

Place the pot on a high heat to bring to a boil. While the water is heating, prepare and add the seasonings. For a basic bean, the easy way, add only the following ingredients and add a fair amount of each, to taste: onion powder, garlic salt and black pepper. Recommended amounts would be 2-3 tablespoons of onion powder/garlic salt and 2 teaspoons of black pepper. Now stir in 1-2 teaspoons of cumin seed. Cumin is the secret ingredient. Do not overuse cumin because it is very pungent. Finally, add half of a jar of jalapeno slices and half of a large jar of whatever prepared salsa fits your taste buds.

Allow the pot to simmer slowly and keep it vented the entire time. You will probably need to add water more than once during the cooking process. Keep an eye on your simmering bean pot! Continue to cook slowly approximately one to two hours. Stir from the bottom occasionally. Turn off the heat and leave the pot on the stove tightly covered for another 1-2 hours. Bring back to a boil with lid vented or removed and cook for an additional hour to ninety minutes, adding water as needed. When done, the beans will be firm but not mushy.

Cooking times will vary depending on the type of cooking vessel used, the type of stove used and even the weather can have an impact on how long the beans will need to cook and how much water will need to be added to the pot during the cooking time. If you want a hotter taste to develop during refrigeration, simply leave the cooking water in the pot during refrigeration and remove beans with a slotted spoon. Otherwise drain beans after cooking and store in a glass bowl covered with plastic wrap. Cut up the cooked meat, used to season the bean pot, and serve in a burrito or taco. Refrigerate leftovers for several days. If you prefer to freeze leftovers, do so in a plastic airtight container and retain some of the bean broth to keep the finished product from dehydrating. Enjoy this traditional chile and beans recipe and make it your own by mixing up different spices each time you make it!