Beans and Chicos. New Mexico chicos are made from local sweet corn. Once sun-dried, they’re a staple in Southwestern kitchens. Beans and chicos are a popular, simple and hearty dish made from this specialty food.
Last fall on one of my annual trips to LuLu’s Farm in Brighton, I ran across a peculiar bag of dried corn that didn’t quite look exactly like hominy.
What Are Chicos?
A trip to the counter to ask about my find revealed that I had a bag of Chicos in my hand. When I arrived home, I consulted Google and thanks to New Mexico Magazine found:
We take ears of white, sweet corn that is still in the husks, and lay them in a big horno, or outdoor adobe oven, and cover them with wet potato sacks,” says Shirley Martinez of Martinez Farms, which produces more than 100 pounds of chicos a year. “We make a hot wood fire, cover the horno completely with adobe and mud, and leave the corn to steam overnight, which gives chicos their smoky flavor. We take the corn out the next day, pull the husks all the way back, and hang them to sun-dry for at least a week.” The fruits of this fall’s labors, she says, will be sold next year.
How To Make Chicos And Beans
Continuing my search for traditional ways to serve them, most of the recipes were simple dishes of chicos and beans, using pinto beans.
- I chose to use my crock pot to make Beans and Chicos.
- Rinse the pinto beans and remove any misfits.
- In a fry pan, cook 6 slices of bacon. Cut the bacon into chunks before cooking.
- Remove most of the bacon grease and cook chopped onion in the same pan. Cook until the onions are turning tender. About 5 minutes.
- In a crock pot, add bacon grease, onions, bacon, beans and chicos.
- Cover with water by about 2 inches. Stir in chile powder. Cook on low all day or until beans and chicos are tender. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over rice and cooked chard.
New Mexico Pinto Beans Recipe with Chicos
I hope you give this recipe for beans and chicos a try. And if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a message about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a favorite recipe using Chicos, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
More Pinto Beans Recipes
Chicos and Beans
Ingredients
- 2 Cups dried pinto beans
- 1/2 Cup chicos
- 1 small sweet onion diced
- 6 slices bacon chopped and cooked until just crisp
- 1 Tablespoon red chili powder New Mexico Chimayo
- 2 Tablespoons bacon grease
- 1 bunch Swiss chard
- White rice cooked
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place beans and chicos in a colander and rinse well. Place the beans and chicos in your crock pot, and cover with water by two inches. Soak over night.
- In a fry pan, cook bacon until just crisp. With a slotted spoon remove bacon to a paper towel. Remove most of the bacon grease, reserving two tablespoons. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- In a crock pot, add bacon grease, onions, bacon to the chicos and beans. Stir in chile powder. Cook on low all day or until beans and chicos are tender. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over wilted chard and cooked white rice.
Nutrition
New Mexico Pinto Beans and Chicos …They’re what’s for Dinner.
