Are charro beans healthy?

This type of question is always difficult to answer because every person has a different definition to the word "healthy." In my opinion, yes they are very healthy. One large serving has 360 calories, 18 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fiber.

What does frijoles charros mean in English?

Frijoles charros translates into "cowboy beans" in English. They get their name from the Mexican charros or cowboys who prepared them over a campfire while working.

Frijoles Charros (Charro Beans) - My Kitchen Escapades

Name: Frijoles Charros
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 h 45 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 pound dry pinto beans; 6 cups chicken broth; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 12 ounces bacon, chopped; 1 large red onion; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 serrano peppers, chopped with seeds; 2 – 14 ounce cans fire roasted tomatoes; 1 bunch fresh cilantro, leaves chopped

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound dry pinto beans

6 cups chicken broth

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons kosher salt

12 ounces bacon, chopped

1 large red onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 serrano peppers, chopped with seeds

2 – 14 ounce cans fire roasted tomatoes

1 bunch fresh cilantro, leaves chopped

Instructions

Rinse the dry pinto beans well and be sure there are no rocks. Place the clean beans in a large pot and cover with about an inch of water. Do NOT add any salt at this point. Bring to a full boil, turn off the heat, cover, and let set for 2 hours.
Drain the beans. Rinse well with cold water and drain them again.
Add the chicken broth, salt, bay leaves, and oregano to the drained beans. Bring them to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and allow to simmer for 45 minutes.
While the beans simmer, prepare the remaining ingredients. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and cook the bacon until it is browned and the fat renders.
Add the onion, garlic, and serrano pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, scraping the bottom the pan with a wooden spoon as the aromatics cook.
Add the two cans of tomatoes and the juice from the tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and allow it to thicken.
Add the bacon mixture to the beans and increase the heat to medium high. Allow the beans to finish cooking and the sauce to thicken. This takes about 20-30 minutes. You can also use a potato masher to mash some of the mixture to thicken it faster.
Add the cilantro and serve.

Notes

If you want more spice, add another serrano pepper or two with the seeds. The recipe is on the mild side as written.

Do not add salt to the water during the first step. It is important to let the beans soften before adding any salt in step 3. If you add salt in the first step, your beans will never fully soften.

Author: Carole Jones
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/10
Calories: 361 kcal
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 640 mg
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 35 g
Fiber: 9 g
Protein: 18 g
Cholesterol: 29 mg

Keywords: frijoles charros