84. DRUNKEN PINTOS with CILANTRO and BACON

a.k.a. Frijoles Borrachos

serves 4-6 as a side dish


8 ounces (about 1 1/4 cups) dry pinto beans
1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) cubed pork shoulder (or extra chopped bacon, if you wish)
4 thick slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 small white onion, diced into 1/4-inch pieces
Hot fresh green chile to taste (roughly 2 serranos or 1 jalapeno), stemmed, seeded and sliced
Salt, about 3/4 teaspoon
1 1/2 tablespoons tequila (plus a little more if you like)
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

THE BEANS: Rinse the beans thoroughly and scoop into a medium-size (4-quart) pot (preferably a Dutch oven or Mexican earthenware olla). Add 5 cups water, remove any beans that float, then add the pork shoulder (or extra chopped bacon) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and very gently simmer, partially covered, until the beans are thoroughly tender, about 2 hours. You'll need to gently stir the beans regularly and add water as necessary to keep the liquid a generous 1/2 inch above the level of the beans.

THE FLAVORINGS: In a medium-size skillet, fry the bacon (that is, the remaining bacon if you used some for the simmering), stirring regularly, until crisp, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon, leaving behind as much of the drippings as possible. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the drippings and return the pan to medium heat. Add the onion and chiles and fry until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Scrape the onion mixture into the beans, then taste and season it all with salt. Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes to blend the flavors.

FINISHED THE DISH: If the beans seem quite soupy, boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the consistency of a nice, brothy bean soup. (An alternative here is to puree 1/4 of the beans in a food processor or blender, returning them to the pot to thicken the broth.)
Just before serving, stir in the tequila and cilantro, then serve in warm bowls topped with the crumbled bacon.

ADVANCE PREPARATION: The beans can be cooked through step 2 several days ahead; refrigerate, covered.

SHORTCUTS: Two 16-ounce cans of pinto beans can replace the beans in step 1.


courtesy of: Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen, by Rick Bayless, New York: Scribner, October 1996