This was very good, and a good use of my Costco sized bag of pinto beans. My only recommendation would be to reduce the water to 4.5 or 5 cups, and maybe add 1 lb of chorizo.
1 pound dried pinto beans, picked over
3 medium onions, chopped fine
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
6 cups water
1/2 pound cured chorizo, sliced 1/4 inch thick, if desired
28– to 32-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and puréed coarse
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup canned mild enchilada sauce (not salsa), or to taste
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
In a bowl soak beans in water to cover by 2 inches overnight or quick-soak (procedure follows) and drain.
In a heavy kettle sauté onions and garlic in oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until pale golden. Add bell peppers and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add drained beans and the 6 cups water and simmer, covered partially, until tender, about 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
While soup is simmering, in a skillet brown chorizo, in batches if necessary, over moderately high heat and transfer to paper towels to drain. Add chorizo to soup with tomatoes, broth, enchilada sauce, and salt to taste and simmer, covered partially and stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Soup may be made 4 days ahead (cool uncovered before chilling covered).
Just before serving, stir in lime juice and coriander.
From the internet and
Gourmet
March 1994
