Taco Cabana Borracho Bean Food

BEST DAMN BORRACHO BEANS PERIOD!

Steps:

• Soak your beans. (This very important if you want tender beans). Bring beans to boil in 8-10 cups of water. Remove from heat covered. Let the beans soak for 1 hour.
• Strain the beans, and discard water. Bring another 8 cups of water, and 32 ounces of chicken stock to a boil.
• While beans are starting to boil, trim the ham hocks of fat; leave fat in large pieces. Cut the meat into small bite-size pieces. Put all into pot. (Remove fat and bones when your beans are done.).
• Cut veggies into small pieces, then combine veggies, meat, fat, and spices into large stock pot or dutch oven and simmer for at least 2 1/2 hours, or until tender. Remove fat when finished. Taste, add more seasoning if needed.

BORRACHO BEANS FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Sort through the beans, looking for small rocks and debris. Place in large bowl and rinse several times. Remove beans by hand into a clean bowl of water. (Do not pour beans out of the rinse bowl, as there may be sand and debris at the bottom of rinse bowl.) Fill the bowl with the newly rinsed beans with water and soak beans overnight.
• Drain off soaking water. In a large soup pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add beans and dark beer. Add garlic, Kosher salt, onion powder and chili powder to beans and beer. Lower the heat to simmer, cover pan and cook about 2 hours, or until beans are tender. When the beans are light brown and soft, add the cumin, Mexican oregano and jalapeno peppers.
• In a skillet over medium-high heat, fry bacon pieces and onions until bacon is crisp. Add to beans.
• Last, but not least, add the cilantro and fresh roma romatoes. Simmer for another hour.