Borracho Beans (Frijoles Borrachos)

Ever since I can remember, my Dad made carne asada every Saturday without fail.  There was never a doubt what we were eating over the weekend.  I remember a Saturday that we were hit with torrential rains due to a hurricane.  The patio was flooded with about six inches of water, but that did not stop my Dad from making his carne asada.  He prepared the meat and changed into his bathing suit.  He went out to the patio with an umbrella in hand and his flip-flops in tow.  He loved the ritual.  All our friends knew that if they stopped over at the house on Saturday or Sunday, they were having carne asada and all the trimmings.  My parents always had an open door policy, so we always had a full house.

The side that never failed to make an appearance were the borracho beans.  My mom always made beans and placed them in plastic containers in the freezer so we always had a stockpile of beans.  The secret to the borracho beans is to finish them off with a can of beer.  There are no precise measurements because have to eyeball the amounts.  Therefore, I will list the ingredients and you can decide how much to add.

Beans with their liquid
Chopped onion
Chopped tomato
Serrano peppers
Bunch cilantro chopped
Bacon
Sausage (whatever you have on hand, polish, Oscar Mayer, Hebrew national)
Beer (again whatever you have on hand, never tried it with dark so you know)

Slice the bacon and place it in a large pot to render all the fat and cook it until crispy.  Once the bacon is cooked, drain the fat. Do not wash the pot you want all the bits and pieces that stick to the bottom.  Next, slice the sausage lengthwise in half and then again in half.  One or two sausages will do.  Once the sausage is crispy, drain again any fat that was released.  Now you are ready to add the onion and your Serrano pepper.  The size of the Serrano pepper is up to you. I usually add one Serrano cut in thick rounds.  Once the onion and the pepper are cooked, add the chopped tomato.  Add a little water is your tomato is too dry. 

Once all ingredients are cooked, it is time to add the beans.  Here is when you will decide how much beans you will add.  Remember that you eat borracho beans as a soup, so leave room to add the beer.  Simmer all ingredients in the pot for about 5 minutes; all you want is to incorporate the flavors throughout.  Now is the time to add the beer. Add little at a time because it will foam over if you are not careful.  So add a little and mix until you have added all the beer.  Let it simmer until the alcohol is cooked off.  Taste for salt and add the chopped cilantro.  TA DA, you have awesome borracho beans!  P.s. I will look for the picture of my Dad grilling during the storm and will upload it.