Frijoles Charros / Rancheros {Cowboy Beans} #SundaySupper

This week's #SundaySupper theme is one I hold near and dear to my heart, because today we're celebrating Mexican Independence Day!

Most years, I like to go all out for el Día de la Independencia, with a big feast of traditional Mexican dishes like Tamales, Pozole, or Mole de Espinazo.  But this year, I was in the mood for something simpler.  Something homey and comforting.  Maybe something soupy like Pappy (my abuelito) used to make.  But I also wanted something that would use the gorgeous little red beans I found at my favorite produce store earlier in the week.  That's when I remembered Pappy's Frijoles Rancheros, which my grandmother always argued were actually called Frijoles Charros.  I really didn't care what they called them, I just wanted to dive into the hearty bean soup with pieces of pork meat.  Sometimes that pork meat was bacon, but most of the time, Pappy made his Frijoles Charros with smoked patitas de puerco (pigs feet).  Either way, it was always delicious.

For me, Frijoles Charros is the perfect dish to serve this year for Mexican Independence Day, because it's made with one of the most important staple ingredients of Mexican cuisine: beans.  And it gets much of it's flavor from a tricolor Salsa Mexicana, with the same colors of the Mexican flag.  And because it reminds me of the stories Pappy used to tell me about his childhood en el rancho (on the ranch) in the mountains of Chihuahua.  It's an awesome Mexican recipe any way you look at it.

Feliz Día de la Independencia!  Viva México!  Viva México!!! Viva México!!! 

Frijoles Charros o Frijoles Rancheros
(Cowboy Beans) (Recipe adapted from Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless)

Ingredients:

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 3 large roma tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 fresh serrano chilies, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 4 cups Cooked Beans with bean broth
• 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Directions:
In a large 2 to 3-quart saucepan or stockpot, saute the bacon over medium heat, stirring regularly, until  completely cooked and crispy.  Add the onion, garlic, and serrano chilies.  Saute for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in the tomatoes and let cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.  Add the beans with their broth and 2 tablespoons of the chopped cilantro.  Taste and season with salt, if necessary.  Cover and let simmer over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes.  Serve in bowls and garnish with more chopped cilantro.  Enjoy!!!

For more Fiesta food & drinks, be sure to check out all of the #SundaySupper recipes!

Sopas (Soups), Ensaladas (Salads), and Entremeses (Starters)

• Chicken Tortilla Soup - The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen  
• Mexican Paint Soup - Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends  
• Jalapeño Popper Dip - Chocolate Moosey
• Vegan Tortilla Soup - Galactosemia in PDX
• Texas Caviar - Ruffles and Truffles
• Cheese-Stuffed Jalapeños w/ a Tequila Sunrise - Mama's Blissful Bites
• Mexican 7 Layer Dip & Chips - The Daily Dish Recipes 
• Stoplight Salsa Reisipe - Family Foodie
• Tortilla Soup with Roasted Vegetables - Diabetic Foodie
• Mini Taco Salads - Big Bear's Wife

La Comida (the food)

• Fiesta en tu Boca Enchiladas (Chicken & White Bean Enchiladas w/ Salsa Verde) - The Hand That Rocks the Ladle 
• Gluten-Free Chicken Spinach Artichoke Enchiladas for #SundaySupper - Cooking Underwriter  
• Mexican Fiesta for #SundaySupper: Chipotle Chicken & 3 Bean Quesadillas w/ Wasabi Guacamole and Mango Salsa - Chattering Kitchen  
• Carnitas - My Catholic Kitchen  
• Tamale Pie - Noshing with the Nolands  
• Eggs Motuleños - The Meltaways
• Grilled Fish Tacos with Black Bean and Corn Salsa - Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Carne Asada - Magnolia Days
• Carnitas Avocado Pizza with Chipotle Avocado Mayonnaise Drizzle - Damn Delicious
• Frijoles Charros (Cowboy Beans) - La Cocina de Leslie
• Puerco Pibil - girlichef
• BLT Quesadillas with Avocado Mayo - Cindy's Recipes and Writings  
• Chile Rellenos with Roasted Tomato Sauce - Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen 
• Tamales with Green Chili Sauce - Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
• Beef and Vegetable Enchiladas - Hezzi D's Books and Cooks
• Chicken Con Queso - Momma's Meals
• Baked Flautas - Home Cooking Memories
• Chunky Aztec Chocolate Granola - What Smells So Good? 
• Street Tacos Al Pastor - Sustainable Dad
• Shrimp Tacos - Pippi's in the Kitchen Again 
• Chile Relleno with Ranchero Sauce - The Little Ferraro Kitchen 
• Zippy Chipotle Shrimp & Mango Tostadas - Sue's Nutrition Buzz 
• Pork Tacos - Tora's Real Food
• Stuffed Sopapillas - Juanita's Cocina
• Chicken Fajitas - Cravings of a Lunatic
• Blue Crab Tacos - Pescetarian Journal
• Huevos Rancheros - Comfy Cuisine

Postres (desserts)

• Chocolate Cinnamon Flan - Vintage Kitchen Notes  
• Caramel Apple Enchiladas for a Mexican Fiesta #SundaySupper - In the Kitchen with KP
• Chilli Chocolate Truffles - Happy Baking Days
• Horchata Ice Cream & Churro Brownies - Kwistin's Favorites
• Strawberry Empanadas - In the Kitchen with Audrey and Maureen 
• Plantain Fritters - From Fast Food to Fresh Food
• Fried Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas - The Watering Mouth

Bebidas (beverages)

• Beer Margaritas - That Skinny Chick can bake 
• Hatch Chile Margarita - Shockingly Delicious
• Skinny & Spicy Watermelon Margaritas - I Run for Wine
• Refreshing Kiwi Lime Margarita - Mama Mommy Mom
• Wine Pairings for a Mexican Fiesta #SundaySupper - ENOFYLZ

Please be sure you join us on Twitter throughout the day (this coming Sunday, September 16) during #SundaySupper. We’ll be meeting up at 7:00 pm (Eastern) for our weekly #SundaySupper  live chat where we’ll talk about our favorite recipes for a Mexican Fiesta! All you have to do is follow the#SundaySupper hashtag, or you can follow us through TweetChat!  We’d also love to feature your Mexican Fiesta recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them with all of our followers!