Simmered Pinto Beans in Western Style (Cowboy-style)
Saddle up, partner! You're in for a gut-bustin', cuss-soakin', flavor-filled cattle drive with these Old West-style beans. 'Course, they ain't all cowboy and no cream. With a touch of your specified ingredients, you're in for an unforgettable culinary experience.
Now, let's hitch up the old mule and dig into this dish. First things first, slap some sense into those beans––soak 'em overnight, or if you're impatient as a greased pig, use Julia Child's quick-soak method. Dang, she knew her beans!
Once they've had their rest, we'll gather the rest of the gang – salt pork, water, tomatoes, garlic, onions, chili powder, cumin, jalapenos, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, and kosher salt. Sounds like quite the rowdy posse, don't they?
With our crew assembled, we'll cook up a storm. Save yourself from the hanging judge of overcooked beans by utilizing Julia's low-and-slow method, giving the beans time to develop them Old West flavors without losing their shape. Stir 'em up from the bottom every now and then and add more water if they're lookin' thirsty.
Once the beans are tender enough to tame a wild stallion, we'll serve 'em up hot. Slap 'em on the table, gather round, and chow down!
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pinto beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
- 1/4 pound salt pork, cut into pieces
- 8 cups water, plus more as needed
- 1 can whole tomatoes with juice
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 jalapeno chilies, seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce or ketchup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Pick over the beans, removing any wrinkled or blemished beans.
- Cut several slits into the salt pork.
- Combine the beans, salt pork, water, tomatoes, garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, chilies, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, and kosher salt in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook the beans, covered, for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding water as needed to keep the beans submerged.
- Once the beans are tender but still hold their shape, they're done! Serve hot.
Happy cookin', partner! Ain't no sheriff can hold you back now that you got this Old West-style bean recipe in your kit. And if you want to give your beans a little extra somethin'-somethin', check out the enrichment data below. Cheers!
Enrichment Data:This recipe is a tasty fusion of classic techniques and modern ingredients, inspired by Julia Child's methods for preparing beans. Julia was known for her meticulous approach to cooking–– let's apply that to our Old West-style beans by ensuring proper soaking, slow cooking, and flavorful marinating.
To simplify the recipe while preserving its essence, here's an altered yet equally delicious version:
Ingredients
- 1 pound pinto beans, rinsed and soaked (overnight or quick-soaked)
- 1 pound salt pork (or bacon), diced
- 2 cans diced tomatoes (juice included)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Water or broth for soaking and cooking
Prepare the beans following the soaking instructions provided earlier. After soaking, combine the beans, diced salt pork (or bacon), both cans of tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, jalapenos, Worcestershire sauce, and barbecue sauce in a large pot. Add enough water or broth to cover the ingredients by about an inch. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook the beans for about 1 hour, or until tender.
Enjoy your revamped Old West-style pinto beans, partners!
- These Old West-style beans recipes aren't just cowboy food – they're a nutritious and flavorful culinary adventure.
- To unlock the full potential of this recipe's taste, pay attention to nutrition facts like the 6 to 8 servings it yields, and keep track of ingredients like the pinto beans, salt pork, and Worcestershire sauce.
- For those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, the enrichment data provides options to simplify the recipe without compromising flavor, using ingredients such as bacon, and canned diced tomatoes.
- Whether you're an uncategorized chef or a seasoned cook, following the provided instructions will transform ordinary beans into dishes worth sharing, with flavors that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.