One of the most traditional recipes from Guatemala, as it is easy to prepare and very delicious. It is a typical dish mainly made in Chimaltenango, the secret of the seasoning is toasted and ground squash seed.
This recipe combines the smoothness of cooked beans with the crunchy texture of pork crackling and the spicy flavor of chilies and spices.
To prepare this dish, red beans are used, which are soaked overnight to soften and cook faster.
Then they are cooked slowly with onion, garlic, chilies, tomatoes, and spices until they are smooth and creamy.
The pork crackling is fried until crispy and added to the beans along with fresh cilantro to add a touch of freshness.
Some of its tradition
The Mayans cultivated a variety of beans and used them as a staple in their diet.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, new ingredients were introduced, such as pork, which became an important food in the Guatemalan diet.
The history of this recipe in the country is closely related to the All Saints' Day celebration, which is held on November 1st.
During this celebration, it is customary to visit cemeteries and share food with the departed. Red beans with pork crackling are one of the dishes offered to the deceased in the graves, along with tamales and other typical foods.
In some areas, they are prepared with guajillo chilies, while in others, red bell peppers are used.
There are also versions with different types of meat, such as chicken or beef. However, the combination of beans and pork crackling is the basis of this recipe, and it is a dish enjoyed in the country throughout the year.
Preparation Tips
First, it is essential to soak the beans overnight to soften and cook faster.
It is also advisable to cook them slowly to make them smooth and creamy.
If the beans are a bit tough, you can add a little baking soda during cooking to soften them.
It is important to taste the seasoning and adjust the spices to each person's liking.
The pork crackling can be found in specialty stores or prepared at home with pork skin.
To achieve a crispy result, it is important that the skin is well dried before frying. When serving, it can be garnished with fresh cilantro and served with rice and tortillas.
Red Beans with Pork Crackling
Ingredients
500 grams of Red beans
½ pound of Tomato
120 grams of Miltomate
3 Large garlic cloves
1 Medium white onion
120 grams of Squash seed
180 grams of Pork cracklings
1 pinch of Salt
Preparation
Step 1 : Clean, wash, and soak the beans a day before preparation.
Step 2 : The next day, cook them with salt in a pressure cooker for half an hour.
Step 3 : Brown the tomato, miltomate, garlic cloves, and halved onion on a metal griddle.
Step 4 : Toast the squash seed in a pan or on a metal griddle, being careful not to burn it to avoid bitterness in the seasoning.
Step 5 : Then, blend all the mentioned ingredients, except the squash seed, and strain the mixture.
Step 6 : Next, grind the squash seed with a blender.
Step 7 : Add the pork cracklings, previously cut into bite-sized pieces, to the beans along with the blended ingredients and the ground squash seed.
Step 8 : Pressure cook for 20 minutes to soften the pork cracklings.
Step 9 : Finally, season everything with salt, check and adjust the seasoning.
Step 10 : If you want a spicy touch, you can add a roasted and blended guaque chili to the seasoning.
Step 11 : Serve the beans with rice and a chiltepe sauce if desired.
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