It’s Cinco de Mayo! You just have to start every great Mexican meal with a fabulous pot of beans. For years I wasn’t happy with my Mexican beans recipe.
One day I told my mom that mine just never taste as good as the beans I ate at home growing up or in the Valley, as we like to refer to the South Texas region where they live. She told me that the secret was in the bacon, and she was right! Here is my perfect Mexican beans recipe:
2 lbs of pinto beans
1 lb bacon
1 large onion
1 can Rotel Tomatoes
1 bunch cilantro
I use the quick soak method. Separate and wash the beans. Cover with about 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand for an hour.
Meanwhile, chop and fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and fry the chopped onion in the bacon grease until tender.
Then bring the beans to a boil again, and reduce heat. Add the tomato, bacon, onions and all–yes all the bacon grease. Simmer for an hour or until the beans are tender.
Just before serving add salt to taste and the leaves from a whole bunch of cilantro. Perfection!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Sounds very easy and of course, easy on the budget too. Yum!
Yummy! But you forgot to add Bean-o as an ingredient. 🙂
sounds yummy!!
I have never had Mexican Beans they sound really good! Well anything with a lb of bacon (and the grease!) sounds good to me right now!!
They really do sound good! And they look even better! Oh, that I were a cook! My kingdom for a spatula! No, not really. I’ll pass on the recipe to Mom. She’s a whiz. But this one looks simple enough.
Have a wonderful day!
The bacon grease makes the beans delicious, but you don’t absolutely have to put that much if you have worries about colesterol (or pounds). I save part of the grease to make refried beans with the leftovers. I guess I still eat it all one way or another, though!
Ooooh! I am so excited to try this! I have a bag of beans that I was just (as in two hours ago) wondering how I would cook them. I might have to buy some bacon, though!
omg you make it sound so easy!! i’ve always wanted to know how to make beans!! i’m going to give it a try!!
Yum! I’m going to have to try this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Sounds good, except I’ll use turkey bacon. Thanks!
Great post!
We have beans at least once a week!
I will have to try your tips!
Thanks for sharing!!
Blessings,
Janelle
PS – stopped by from Works for Me Wednesday!
You can add a whole fresh jalapeno, no stem, to the potnof beans to add a little kick!
Instead of water I use stock. Comes out even better.
I’m looking forward to trying these. What size can of rotel do you use with two pounds of beans?
Oh my goodness! Great question. 10 oz can. I need to update this recipe. 🙂