Chorizo Refried Beans Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the ground pork, ancho powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, cinnamon, clove and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until brown, about 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Lay a tortilla on a work surface and top evenly with 1/2 cup Cheddar. Add 1/4 of the chorizo, 1/4 of the beans and some jalapeno. Fold the tortilla in half to enclose fillings. Repeat with remaining tortillas and ingredients.
• Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Cook the quesadilla, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and it is golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining quesadillas.
• Cut into triangles and serve with guacamole, salsa, chopped scallions and sour cream.

Steps:

• Finely chop the chorizo into small dice. In a heavy-bottomed pot add olive oil and chorizo. Put the pot over low heat and slowly bring the heat up to medium. Fry the chorizo for a few minutes to infuse the olive oil. Using a slotted spoon remove about 1/4 cup of chorizo, for garnish, and set aside. To the remaining chorizo in the pot add the onion and garlic and fry until both are cooked, about 2 minutes. Add the beans with their liquid and stock and simmer to allow the flavors to come together about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Use a potato masher to mash the beans into a coarse puree. Alternatively, you could let the beans cool for about 5 minutes and carefully puree in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the oil in a large pot and heat to 350 degrees F.
• For the sopes: Mix the masa harina, chicken stock, cumin and salt and form a soft dough. To form the sopes, grab a small ball of dough and form mini "soup bowls" about 4 inches in diameter. Repeat until all the dough has been used. Place on a sheet tray and bake in the oven for 5 minutes, just to set the dough. Set aside until ready to fry.
• For the beans: In the meantime, pull the sausage from the casings and break apart. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the sausage, breaking it up in the pan, and cook until the fat starts rendering, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and garlic to the pan and sweat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the pinto beans and cook for another 5 minutes. Using a potato masher, mash the beans into the chorizo mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes until everything is incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Hold warm over low heat, making sure the bottom doesn't burn.
• For the slaw: In a dry skillet, toast the fennel until fragrant and set aside. In a bowl, mix lime juice, jalapenos, cucumber, cabbage, cilantro and onions. Season with salt and pepper and add the toasted fennel. Let stand to bring the flavors together.
• For the chile sauce: In a dry pan, toast the chiles until fragrant, remove and set aside. Return the pan to medium heat, add the olive oil, onions and garlic. Sweat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Mince the chiles and add them with the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and simmer, about10 minutes. Let the mixture cool a bit, then add to a blender and puree until smooth.
• To assemble: Carefully drop the sopes into the hot oil, 2 at a time, and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove and hold on a paper towel-lined sheet tray. Repeat with the remaining sopes.
• Take a sope and layer with the chorizo and bean mixture, then the slaw and drizzle the tomato chile sauce over the top. Serve with lime wedges as garnish, if desired.