When I lived in the Southwest, I used to miss “Baked Beans.” It seemed that anytime I ate out and ordered beans as a side, they were either Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros or some kind of Barbecued Baked Beans. Now that I’m in the Midwest, I miss those Cowboy Beans. Go figure, huh? Not anymore, though!
Frijoles Charros or Cowboy Beans
When you think of Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros, think of tender, slightly smoky beans flavored with bacon and onion and something with a bit of a kick. Yep, I’m going there again: a little poblano pepper, a little jalapeno or serrano. They’re saucy and sassy at the same time.
About Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros:
Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros is a traditional Mexican Dish, named after the Mexican Cowboys, the Charros. They are almost a stew of pintos, onion, garlic, and bacon and can include chiles, cilantro, tomatoes, along with ham, sausage, pork or chorizo.
Serve Frijoles Charros as a main dish (maybe cornbread or tortillas on the side) or as a side for any Southwestern or Tex Mex or Mexican food. They’re great just slopped in a tortilla and rolled up as a quick burrito, by themselves, maybe with rice or any other filling you’d like along with the beans. These aren’t a copycat Chipotle recipe (they are sooo much better) but can be used in a burrito just like Chipotle’s beans. Maybe in the Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito recipe, below. I’ve given you several links as options that go great with Frijoles Charros.
I adapted this recipe for the Instant Pot from a recipe developed by J. Kenji López-Alt of Serious Eats. At first I was a bit taken aback by his use of canned fire-roasted tomatoes in what is normally a very simple, traditional dish. I threw caution to the wind (mostly because I didn’t feel much like charring and peeling my own poblanos, tomatoes, and onions in 90-degree heat) and tossed in Rotel. It was the right call.
Frijoles Charros or Cowboy Beans
About Cooking Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros in the Instant Pot:
Beans are known to be a bit of a pain to cook. There is the soaking and the waiting and long hours of cooking. And traditional cooking methods tend to have a lot of stirring or watching when made stovetop or in the oven.
The pressure cooker comes to the rescue. A few minutes for a quick soak, then the ingredients are dumped in. While it can take a good bit of time to cook beans, even in the pressure cooker, what you don’t need to worry about is babysitting. You don’t need to stir, you don’t need to check them, and you don’t have to worry about them drying out or scorching.
About Eating any Beans, including Cowboy Beans Frijoles Charros:
The poor bean. It has a reputation. The unmentionable one. There are ways to mitigate that including eating more beans! Soaking and rinsing helps with that, too. Beans are so healthy and so full of good things (see what the World’s Healthiest Foods has to say about the Pinto) that they are well worth spending a little time getting comfy with them. Beans and rice are also, combined, an excellent source of protein, and you’ll see beans and rice served together in many cultures throughout the world.
Frijoles Charros Cowboy Beans
Cowboy Beans – Frijoles Charros Instant Pot
Classic Slow Cooked Frijoles Charros done in the Instant Pot
- Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes + soak
- Yield: 8 to 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pinto beans
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 12 ounces diced bacon
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 to 3 serrano chilis, minced (remove ribs and seeds if you prefer less heat) may use the milder jalapeno if desired
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 14 ounce cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes with juice or 2 cans Rotel, with juice
- 4 cups home-made or low sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, optional
- 2 sprigs (about 1 teaspoon dried) epazote, optional, substitute with 1/2 teaspoon dried (preferably Mexican) oregano
- large handful of chopped fresh cilantro, optional
Instructions
Presoak beans:
Sort through beans, removing any stones or dirt, rinse well. Add to Instant Pot along with 2 teaspoons salt and 8 cups water. Set to saute (high) and bring to a boil. Immediately place on lid and lock, use the manual function to set to high pressure and two minutes of time.
When time is up, allow to go to the keep warm function for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure in short bursts but watch the valve. If any foam or bits of beans come out, stop immediately (the valve may clog) wait about 10 minutes and release any remaining pressure, again in short bursts.
Drain beans and rinse well. Rinse the Instant Pot liner, along with the lid if there is bean residue or foam on it.
For the Cowboy Beans:
Replace the liner and set Instant Pot to Saute (high) and add bacon, stirring until the fat is rendered and it is starting to brown around the edges, about five minutes. Add the onions and chilis and cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about four minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the tomatoes or Rotel and cook, stirring up and brown bits.
Add in beans, stock, bay leaves, salt, epazote, if using, or oregano. Replace the lid and set to the Bean setting (high, 30 minutes.) When time is up, allow to go to the warm function and sit for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure manually, again watching for any foam from the valve.
Taste and add liquid smoke and season if necessary, discard bay leaves. To slightly thicken beans, stir gently. Add cilantro if desired.
Keeps refrigerated for one week, may be frozen.
Note: the two cans of Rotel, combined, had one cup of liquid. If making any substitutions, make sure that there is a cup of liquid, if not make up the difference with broth or water.
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I’ll be posting this recipe on Fiesta Friday number 179, hosted by Angie and co-hosted by Petra @ Food Eat Love and Laura @ Feast Wisely.Be sure to stop by Fiesta Friday and Petra and Laura’s blogs and see what everyone is making this week.
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