When you are searching for a delicious Mexican side dish, Pappasito’s charro beans are the perfect choice. Charro beans are a simple and flavorful combination of unique ingredients, that can be served as a side to almost any meal.
The smoky flavor of bacon combined with the earthy flavors of the beans makes for a delicious dish that will have your guests begging for more. If you want to learn how to make this traditional Mexican dish, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will walk you through the steps needed for making Pappasito’s charro beans from start to finish. We will provide a list of ingredients and cooking tips to ensure that your dish comes out perfectly every time.
What Is Pappasito’s charro beans?
Pappasito’s charro beans are a classic Mexican side dish made with pinto beans, bacon, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, cumin, and chili powder. It is often served as an accompaniment to almost any meal. The smoky flavor of bacon and the earthy flavors of the beans combine to create a dish that is sure to be a hit with your guests.
Where Did I First Try Pappasito’s charro beans?
I first tried Pappasito’s charro beans at Pappasito’s Cantina in San Antonio, Texas. I had heard about the restaurant from friends and family before my visit, but when I actually arrived there it was even better than expected.
The restaurant is located in a beautiful area of town with great views of downtown and the River Walk. As soon as we walked in, we were welcomed by friendly staff and a wonderful smell of traditional Mexican cuisine.
I ordered the charro beans as an appetizer and was pleasantly surprised with the taste. The pinto beans were cooked to perfection in a smoky bacon mixture that had just the right amount of spices and flavor.
The tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, cumin, and chili powder all blended together nicely to create an amazing dish. After tasting the charro beans, I was hooked and decided to order a full portion as my entrée.
The larger portion was just as delicious as the smaller one, with all of the same flavors coming through in every bite. I also really enjoyed the other dishes that were served alongside it such as refried beans, Mexican rice, and flour tortillas.
The charro beans at Pappasito’s Cantina were definitely some of the best I have ever had, and they remain one of my favorite Mexican dishes to this day. The combination of smoky bacon with the earthy flavors of beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, cumin, and chili powder is simply unbeatable.
After I got back home, I decided to recreate the dish for my family and friends. After some trial and error, I finally came up with a recipe that was just as good as the one at Pappasito’s Cantina. The final outcome was a delicious and flavorful dish that had everyone asking for seconds.
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Ingredients
- Pinto beans: One of the basic ingridients of Pappasito’s charro beans is pinto beans as they provide the main flavor and texture for the dish. Pinto beans are a type of legume that when cooked have a creamy-smooth texture and nutty flavor, perfect for this particular side dish.
- Bacon: Bacon is used to add depth of flavor to the dish as well as a smoky, salty taste. Bacon is usually cut into cubes before being added to the beans for extra flavor.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes add a slight acidity and sweetness to the dish which is balanced out by the other ingridients. Roma tomatoes are usually used as they are small in size and have a sweet, mild flavor.
- Onion: Onions help balance out the flavors of this dish and provide an additional layer of flavor. The onions should be chopped into small pieces before being added to the beans.
- Garlic: Garlic adds a pungent and spicy flavor as well as some depth of flavor to the dish. As with the other ingridients, it is best to mince or chop the garlic before adding it in.
- Cilantro: Cilantro provides a bright flavor and fresh aroma to the dish. It should be chopped finely before being added in for best results.
- Cumin: Cumin adds an earthy flavor as well as depth of flavor to the dish. This spice is usually used in Mexican cuisine and is essential for this dish.
- Chili powder: Chili powder is used to add a little heat and give the dish a nice kick. It can be omitted if preferred but it will definitely add flavor to the beans.
- Salt: Salt is used to balance out all of the flavors as well as provide an additional layer of flavor.
Cooking Directions
Step 1
Soak the beans for at least 8 hours in cold water. Drain and rinse off the soaked beans, then place them in a large pot filled with 1 gallon of cold water.
Step 2
Simmer on medium heat until they are tender (about 1 to 1 ½ hours). Once the beans are tender, add the garlic and bacon cubes to the pot.
Step 3
Add the cilantro, salt, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, and onions to the pot and stir everything together. Simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
Serve in a bowl with extra chopped cilantro as a garnish.
Cooking Tips
• Soaking your beans overnight before cooking them will ensure that they are tender and don’t become mushy.
• Try to use fresh ingridients whenever possible as they will provide the best flavor.
• You can adjust the amount of chili powder to your taste preferences, adding more or less depending on how spicy you want your dish.
• Be sure to stir the pot often while simmering to ensure that the ingridients are evenly distributed throughout the dish.
• Taste test before serving and adjust seasoning if necessary.
What Ingredients Can I Replace or Substitute While Making It?
- If you don’t have some of the ingridients listed above, you can easily replace or substitute them with something else.
- For the pinto beans, you can use black beans or pink beans as a substitute.
- If you don’t have bacon on hand, prosciutto or ham can also be used.
- You can swap out the tomatoes for bell peppers if desired.
- The onions can be replaced with shallots or green onions if necessary.
Pappasito’s Charro Beans Recipe
Equipment
- large heavy pot
- strainer, etc.
Ingredients
Beans and Soaking Mixture:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt
- 1/2 cup of finely chopped garlic
- 1 gallon of water
- 1 1/2 pounds of premium pinto beans ready to soak
Flavorful Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound of bacon expertly cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup of finely chopped white onions
- 4 tablespoons of fresh cilantro plus more for a delightful garnish
- 2 cups of impeccably chopped Roma tomatoes
Spices and Additional Liquids:
- 1/2 gallon of water
- 1 tablespoon of Cumin
- 1 tablespoon of aromatic Chili Powder
Instructions
- Allow the beans to soak for a minimum of 8 hours in water that is cool to the touch. Once complete, discard the liquid and rinse off the beans before placing them into a large pot filled with one gallon of fresh cold water.
- Cook over medium heat until tender, which should take around 1 to 1 ½ hours. Drop the garlic and bacon cubes into the pot, followed by cilantro, salt, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder and onion. Gently mix all of the ingredients together and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
- When ready to serve in a bowl, add chopped cilantro to garnish.
Notes
- Soaking your beans overnight before cooking them will ensure that they are tender and don’t become mushy.
- Try to use fresh ingridients whenever possible as they will provide the best flavor.
- You can adjust the amount of chili powder to your taste preferences, adding more or less depending on how spicy you want your dish.
- Be sure to stir the pot often while simmering to ensure that the ingridients are evenly distributed throughout the dish.
- Taste test before serving and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Nutrition Information
How to Store Leftover Pappasito’s charro beans?
Leftover Pappasito’s charro beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through before serving. Alternatively, you can freeze the leftovers for up to three months if desired.
FAQs
Can pregnant women eat this?
Yes, this dish is safe for pregnant women to eat as long as all of the ingredients are cooked thoroughly. Indeed, pinto beans are a great source of iron and protein, both of which are important for pregnant women.
Can I use canned beans?
Yes, you can certainly use canned beans in this dish. Just make sure to rinse them thoroughly before adding them to the pot. Yet, soaking and cooking your own beans will make for a better-tasting dish.
Can I make this in advance?
Yes, you can definitely make this dish in advance. Just prepare the ingredients up until right before adding the beans. Then you can store everything in an airtight container overnight or freeze it for later use.
Wrapping Up
Thanks for reading this recipe on how to make Pappasito’s charro beans. This classic Mexican side dish is not only delicious, but it’s also surprisingly easy to make! Be sure to use fresh ingridients whenever possible for the best-tasting results and adjust the amount of chili powder depending on how spicy you want your dish.
Now that you have all the tips and tricks you need to make this tasty dish, it’s time to get cooking! And also make sure to share the recipe with your friends and family.
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Dr. Leah Alexander, M.D., is a board-certified Pediatrician in New Jersey and has been working at Elizabeth Pediatric Group of New Jersey since 2000.
She also has a passion for culinary arts that extends beyond the medical realm. After completing culinary school at the French Culinary Institute, she started Global Palate, LLC, a catering firm, in 2007. She ran her own six-year-old catering company and served small group parties as an owner and executive chef.