Monday, January 24, 2011

Heirloom Beans with a Guajillo Chili Sauce

1 lb bag Yellow Indian woman beans or dry bean of your choice.
1 lg Spanish onion.
2 lg tomatoes.
3 cloves garlic.
2 tbs olive oil.
2 tbs Mexican oregano
Chicken stock to cover beans 1 inch over beans. 4- 5 cups.
Salt and pepper.
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley.
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
Soak beans over night rinse and sort.
Roast the unpeeled garlic, onion and tomato in dry skillet on med heat until slightly charred. Turning frequently. Add 1 tbs Mexican oregano and remove from heat. Let cool. Peel garlic and onion. Chop onion, garlic, tomato and pulse in a food processor. This is called a Sofrito. Add 2 tbs olive oil into dutch oven or lg bean pot and heat until glistening. Add mixture from food processor to pan and cook over med heat for 15 to 30 minutes stirring frequently as not to burn. Add beans and chicken stock,1 tbs mexican oregono and bring to boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook until tender. Add salt and pepper to taste after the beans are cooked. Add chopped herbs to bowls when ready to serving.
For the chili sauce:
6 medium dried Guaillo or Ancho chilies Seeded and stemmed.
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil.
2 tbs cider vinegar.
3/4 tsp oregano.
1 tsp salt.
Toast chilies in a hot dry pan. Remove and cut very small dice. I use scissors. Heat oil in small sauce pan over med heat. Add chilies stir for a moment. Remove from heat. Add vinegar, 3 tbs water, oregano, salt and set aside for 1/2 hour. Serve over beans.

I make a lot of beans. So every year I stock up on my favorite varieties from http://www.ranchogordo.com/ . Such a great company owned by Steve Sando of Napa Valley, California. He markets old fashioned heirloom beans and has really become a cult favorite. He grows and sells the rarer, older, more intensely flavored beans. Grown fresh every season. You have to get your order in because when the beans are gone they are gone until next year. As well as being the supplier to many a famous chef, such as Monsieur Thomas Keller he also supplies Moi. So I guess Thomas and I have something in common!

This recipe is a favorite of mine. I use Rancho Gordo Yellow Indian Woman beans which are an incredibly creamy, dense bean that won't fall apart with long cooking. I use a dry roasting technique that they use in Mexico to create an amazingly deeply flavored sofrito that adds such a remarkably distinct flavor. The Guajillo Chili sauce gives this a delicious and picante flavor that is unmistakable. I served this with dollop of mexican crema and a tablespoon of the chili sauce on top. Perfect with some very cold Mexican beer.

Enjoy!

8 comments:

  1. Hey Brintany! Thanks for stopping by. Love to hear from you. B:)

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  2. I'm drooling with this one Beth..., what a list of ingredients, I'd love to try this recipe, the flavours are awesome.

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  3. Anna if I had your address I would send you some of Steve's beans. You would love them. I can only imagine what you would come up with. B:)

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  4. These beans look great- there's a lot of flavor going on here. :)Thanks for the bean source!

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  5. We would DEFINITELY love this dish at my house, Beth! It looks so delicious! I am also going to check out your resource for the beans. I am always wanting to try different varieties. You always have such unique recipes here that make me want to stretch my cooking skills and that is why I have awarded you a "Stylish Blogger Award" via my blog. :)

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  6. Beth - Elaine beat me to it... But I also put you up for a Stylish Blogger Award - I enjoy your work on this blog.

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  7. A good bowl of beans is incredibly comforting for me. This one right here looks like it won't disappoint.

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