By far, my favorite bean dish is frijoles ranchero (ranch style beans). You have no idea how disappointed I was when I found out they don't sell the canned version in Western New York and I had to make my own.
Frijoles Ranchero
Ingredients:
- 1 lb dried pinto beans
- 6 ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 Tbs light olive oil
- 1 (15 oz can) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp Mexican oregano
- 1 cup of water
- 6 cups of beef broth
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro and scallions cut on the bias for garnish
Instructions
Soak the beans covered in water overnight, then drain and rinse the soaked beans. Place them in a Dutch oven, cover them with fresh water by about 3 inches. Over high heat, bring the beans to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 3 hours, adding more water as necessary, until the beans are tender. While the beans cook, toast the ancho chiles in a cast iron skillet for two minutes a side, turning once. Put the chiles in a bowl of fresh water and soak them for 30 to 60 minutes, until soft.
In a non-stick pan, heat 1 Tbs of olive oil to shimmering and sauté the chopped onions, bell pepper and jalapeño until the onions are translucent. Add the chopped garlic and sauté for another 30 to 45 seconds, until fragrant. Allow the onions, bell pepper, jalapenos, and garlic to cool. Roughly chop the ancho chiles and put them and the sautéed vegetables into a blender jar. Add the tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, paprika, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and water to the blender jar and puree until smooth.
Put the pinto beans and beef broth into a heavy pot and stir in the puree. Bring the pot to a boil, stir, and reduce to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally for 2½ to 3 hours, until the sauce reaches the desired thickness. Stir in salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Place the Ranch Beans in a serving bowl and garnish with fresh cilantro and scallions.