This dish is an excellent accompaniment to almost any Mexican meal. The beans should be whole, perfectly tender, and swimming in a generous amount of broth.
Ingredients
1/2 pound bacon, chopped
1 large while onion, chopped
1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano*
1 garlic clove, chopped fine
2 cups dried pinto beans, picked over, soaked in cold water at least 4 hours and up to 12, and drained
1 1/2 quarts water plus additional if necessary
1/2 cup sliced pickled jalapeño chiles
a 12-ounce bottle dark Mexican beer such as Negra Modelo or Dos Equis
2 teaspoons salt plus 1/2 teaspoon if necessary
available at Mexican markets and some specialty produce markets.
Directions
Preheat oven to 300°F.
In a 6-to 7-quart ovenproof kettle cook bacon, onion, oregano, and garlic over moderately high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until onion is browned lightly. Add beans, water, jalapeño, and beer and bring to a boil. Bake mixture, covered, in middle of oven until beans are soft, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Add additional water if beans begin to dry out. Mixture should be soupy with beans very soft but not falling apart.)
Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and bake beans 10 minutes more. Check seasoning, adding remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt if necessary. (Beans may be made 2 days ahead, cooled, uncovered, and chilled, covered.)
