Frijoles a la Charra ("Drunk" Pinto Beans)

Frijoles a la Charra... or frijoles borrachos, because of the beer!The real drunken beans, the way my Mom use to make them. She would usually prepare these on those summer nights of carne asada, ribs, and grilled chicken tacos. I could still smell the smoke from the grill...My Dad would be in charge of the grill and us girls would stay inside preparing all of the salsa's, guacamole, red rice, and beans. For me, this was my idea of a perfect Mexican style barbeque. To this day, whenever I prepare these beans, as soon as I smell those onions and chile serrano sizzle with that bacon, it takes me right back to my Mom's kitchen.

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked pinto beans
½ cup liquid from beans
7 strips of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 serrano chile, sliced
1 small white onion, diced
Handful of chopped cilantro
12 oz of a light beer
salt and pepper
Canola oil

Directions:

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil, add the bacon and cook until browned. Add the onions, chile serrano and cilantro, stir well to combine. Add the beans, liquid from the beans and the beer. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and add 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, stir, cover and cook for a good 20 to 25 minutes. Taste for salt.

Garnish with lime wedges, cilantro, crema (Mexican cream) and warm tortillas or tostadas. These beans were always made with carne asada...

A bountiful meal: Frijoles a La Charra, Baby Back Pork Ribs and Tortitas de Calabaza (zucchini cakes). 

Other recipes by Sonia:

Buñuelos
Mexican Red Rice
Cheesy Chorizo Bread
Pork Chile Colorado
Frijoles Borrachos con Chorizo
Pork Chile Verde
Lemon Pepper Chicken Fajitas
Chorizo Pozole Soup with Lime Pickled Red Onions
Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Chip Chimichangas