Tag Archives: Beans

Real Texas Chili

Ingredient list

2 T. vegetable oil
3 lb. boneless chuck, cut into 1″ pieces
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4-6 T. chili powder
3 T. flour
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 T. leaf oregano, crumbled
2 (13 3/4-oz.) cans beef broth
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 (15-oz.) can pinto beans, optional
1 (8-oz.)container sour cream
1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions

Heat oil in 4-qt. kettle over medium heat. Add beef and cook; stir frequently, until meat changes color but does not brown. Reduce heat to low; stir in garlic. Combine chili powder, flour and cumin in small cup. Sprinkle meat with chili mixture; stir until evenly coated. Crumble oregano over meat. Add 1 1/2 cans of broth; salt and pepper. Stir until well blended. Bring to boil over medium heat; stir occasionally. Reduce heat to low. Partially cover and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours; stir occasionally. Add remaining broth. Simmer for 30 minutes longer or until meat is almost falling apart. Cool; cover and refrigerate overnight to ripen flavor. Reheat chili. If using pinto beans, drain and stir into chili. Garnish with sour cream; serve with lime wedges. Makes 8 servings.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredient list

2 1/2 cups cooked Borlotti or Great Northern beans
4 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions, celery stalks, carrots, finely chopped
2 potatoes, 2 cups butternut squash, in 2cm cubes
2 cups cauliflower, cut into small pieces
3 cups cabbage, thinly sliced,
1 zucchini, chopped into 2cm cubes
1/2 cup barley, washed well
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bay leaf, 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp oregano
2 tsp salt, pepper to taste
1-2 chicken stock cubes and boiling water as needed
Polish sausage, cut into 5cm pieces, plus a ham hock cut in half
250 grams pasta, spiral, penne or shell
Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
Instructions

In a large pot, heat the oil on medium heat, fry onions and celery until soft; add other vegetables. Fry for about 10 to 15 minutes. Add ham hock, garlic, bay leaf, Parmesan cheese crust and water (liquid from the beans can be used), enough to cover the vegetables. Gently simmer for about 30 minutes.

Add beans, barley, herbs, stock cubes and salt, simmer for about 1 hour. Use a blender or potato masher to mash half the vegetables and beans — this adds a thick velvety texture to the Minestrone. Add the Polish sausage and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.

Cook the pasta separately and add to the Minestrone. Remove the ham hock, take off the skin and fat and discard. Cut the tender meat into pieces and add to the Minestrone. Remove from heat and allow to sit for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

NOTE: If you don’t have a ham hock, add two or three slices of rindless bacon, cut into pieces and fry with the onions — this also adds a nice flavour.

New england baked beans

from Jennifer L.’s book, North Branch , MN

Ingredients

1 lb (2 1/3 c.) dry navy beans or dry great northern beans
1/4 lb salt pork, cut up
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 c. molasses
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Preparation instructions

Rinse beans. In a heavy 3-qt saucepan combine beans and 8 c. cold water. Soak overnight…(or bring to boiling; simmer 2 minutes, remove from heat; Cover; soak 1 hr). Add 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to boiling. Cover; reduce heat and simmer in water used for soaking in until beans are tender.
Drain beans, reserving liquid. In a 2 1/2 qt bean pot or casserole combine the beans, salt, pork, and onion. Stir in 1 c. of the reserved bean liquid, molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper. Cover and bake at 300° for 2 1/2 hrs or to desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Add additional reserved bean liquid if necessary.

Submitted by: Jennifer L

Cowboy tacos

from Mandy D.’s book, Colton, SD

Ingredients

1 lb boneless pork loin, cut into 1-inch strips
1 (1 1/4-oz.) pkg. taco seasoning
1c salsa
1 (15-oz.) can spicy chili beans, undrained
1/4 c. apricot preserves
1c. cooked sweet corn kernels (opt.)
flour tortillas

Preparation instructions

In a shallow bowl, combine pork and taco seasoning. Coat hot frying pan with cooking spray and stir fry pork until no longer pink. Stir in salsa, beans, preserves and corn (if using). Reduce heat to low and simmer 10-12 minutes. Spoon mixture into flour tortilla shells and garnish with shredded cheese if desired.

Submitted by: Susan W