This recipe offers a delightful and robust culinary experience, combining the smoky heat of chipotle peppers with the tender, savory goodness of pork and creamy butter beans. It’s a hearty, flavorful dish perfect for a cozy night in or a gathering with friends and family. The depth of flavor achieved through slow cooking makes it a truly unforgettable meal.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This Mexican Chipotle Pork & Beans is more than just a recipe; it’s an adventure in flavor! You’ll adore the way the spicy chipotle beautifully complements the richness of the pork, while the beans add a comforting creaminess. It’s a versatile dish that can be served in countless ways, from a hearty stew to delicious fillings for tacos or burritos. Furthermore, the recipe is relatively simple to follow, yielding restaurant-quality results with minimal effort. The aroma that fills your kitchen as it simmers is simply irresistible.
Ingredients:
Pork:
- 1.5kg / 3lb pork shoulder (skinless, boneless), cut into 6 equal pieces
- 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp cumin powder
Sauce:
- 200g / 7 oz chipotle in adobo – the chillis + sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 cup orange juice (real, not reconstituted sweetened stuff)
- 2 cups chicken stock/broth, low sodium
- 2 bay leaves (fresh, else dried)
- 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 3 x 420g / 16 oz canned butter beans / lima beans, or other of choice
Dried herbs & spices:
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp allspice powder
Preparation:
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan). This temperature allows for slow, even cooking, ensuring that the pork becomes incredibly tender and the flavors meld beautifully.
Step 2: Prepare the Chipotle Puree
Using a stick blender or a regular blender, puree the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce until smooth. This step is crucial for distributing the smoky heat evenly throughout the dish. Be cautious when handling the chipotle peppers, as they can be quite spicy.
Step 3: Season the Pork
Sprinkle the pork pieces all over with salt, pepper, and cumin powder. Massage the spices into the meat to ensure that every piece is well-seasoned. This step not only adds flavor but also helps to create a delicious crust when the pork is browned.
Step 4: Brown the Pork
Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-proof pot over high heat. Brown the pork pieces in batches, about 1 minute per side, until they develop a rich, golden-brown crust. This step adds depth of flavor to the dish and helps to seal in the juices, keeping the pork moist and tender. Remove the browned pork to a plate.
Step 5: Sauté Aromatics
Cool the pot slightly, then return it to medium heat. If the pot looks dry, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the chopped onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, cumin powder, coriander powder, and allspice powder for about 3 minutes, or until the onions are softened and fragrant. This step creates the aromatic base for the sauce, infusing it with layers of flavor.
Step 6: Cook Tomato Paste and Chipotle
Add the tomato paste to the pot and cook it off for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. This step helps to deepen the flavor of the tomato paste and eliminate any raw taste. Then, add the pureed chipotle peppers and cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the spiciness to bloom.
Step 7: Slow Cook the Pork
Add the orange juice, chicken stock/broth, bay leaves, and salt to the pot. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a simmer. Place the browned pork pieces back into the pot, arranging them so that they are submerged as much as possible in the liquid. Cover the pot with a lid and place it in the preheated oven for 2 hours. This slow cooking process is key to achieving incredibly tender pork and a rich, flavorful sauce.
Step 8: Add Beans and Finish Cooking
Remove the pot from the oven and take off the lid. Add the canned butter beans (or your choice of beans) to the pot. Return the pot to the oven, uncovered, and cook for an additional 30 minutes, allowing the surface to caramelize and the beans to absorb the flavors of the sauce. The pork should be fork-tender at this point.
COOKING Rating:
- Difficulty: Medium
- Flavor Intensity: Bold, Spicy, Smoky
- Time Commitment: Moderate
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve as a hearty stew over Mexican red rice or quinoa.
- Serve with warm tortillas for dunking and scooping up the delicious pork and beans.
- Make flavorful tacos by shredding the pork and topping it with finely chopped white onion, fresh coriander/cilantro, avocado slices, and a squeeze of lime.
- Use it as a filling for burritos or enchiladas.
- Top with a dollop of sour cream or Mexican crema for added richness.
- Garnish with pickled red onions or jalapeños for an extra kick.
Tips:
- For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- If you don’t have an oven-proof pot, you can transfer the mixture to a Dutch oven or a baking dish covered with foil.
- For a richer flavor, use homemade chicken stock instead of store-bought.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can simmer the mixture on the stovetop for a few minutes after removing it from the oven, allowing it to reduce slightly.
- To make ahead, you can cook the pork and beans a day in advance and reheat it before serving. The flavors will actually deepen overnight.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Nutritional Information: (Per serving, estimated)
- Calories: Approximately 650-750
- Protein: 45-55g
- Sodium: 800-1000mg
Conclusion
This Mexican Chipotle Pork & Beans recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will tantalize your taste buds with its complex flavors and comforting heartiness. Whether you’re looking for a dish to warm you up on a chilly evening or a show-stopping meal to impress your guests, this recipe delivers on all fronts. Embrace the bold flavors, experiment with different serving suggestions, and make it your own! The magic lies in the slow-cooked tenderness of the pork, infused with the smoky, spicy essence of chipotle peppers. You won’t be disappointed.
5 Questions and Answers about this Recipe:
Q1: Can I use a different cut of pork for this recipe?
A: While pork shoulder is ideal due to its high fat content, which results in a beautifully tender and flavorful dish after slow cooking, you can substitute it with pork butt (also known as Boston butt). Pork loin is not recommended as it tends to dry out during the long cooking process. If you do use a leaner cut, consider adding a bit of extra olive oil to the pot to help keep the meat moist.
Q2: How spicy is this dish?
A: The spiciness of this dish depends on the amount of chipotle peppers used and your personal tolerance for heat. Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can range in spiciness, so it’s best to start with a smaller amount and add more to taste. If you’re sensitive to spice, you can also remove the seeds from the chipotle peppers before pureeing them, as the seeds contain most of the heat. Consider serving with a dollop of sour cream or Mexican crema to help cool down the heat.
Q3: Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker?
A: Absolutely! This recipe is easily adaptable for a slow cooker. Follow the initial steps of browning the pork and sautéing the aromatics in a skillet. Then, transfer everything to your slow cooker, add the remaining ingredients (except the beans), and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the pork is fork-tender. Add the beans during the last hour of cooking.
Q4: What kind of beans are best for this recipe?
A: While the recipe calls for butter beans or lima beans, you can use any type of bean you prefer. Pinto beans, black beans, or kidney beans all work well. Consider the texture and flavor of the beans you choose to complement the pork and chipotle flavors.
Q5: Can I freeze leftovers of this dish?
A: Yes, this Mexican Chipotle Pork & Beans freezes very well. Allow the dish to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave. The flavors may even deepen after freezing and thawing.
