|  Texas Goes to Cuba Beans 
        
       American 
       
      
   
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    | I love Cuban black beans, but my husband hails from Texas and loves pinto beans. Whenever I make beans and I don't include pintos, he gets that slightly disappointed look I call the boo-boo face. To make him happy and still make what I love, I made these beans for a barbecue and they were the hit of the meal. | 
   
  
  
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    | Ingredients | 
   
 
  
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            1 1/2 cups black beans 
1 cup pinto beans 
12 cups water (plus more for initial boil) 
10 peppercorns 
1 bay leaf 
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (optional) 
4 slices thick cut bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices 
1 cup chopped onion 
1 cup chopped celery 
1 serrano chili pepper, minced 
2 green bell peppers, chopped (divided use) 
3 tablespoons minced garlic 
1 tablespoon ground cumin 
1 tablespoon dried oregano 
2 teaspoons ground coriander 
1 tablespoon cider vinegar 
1/4 cup brown sugar 
1 tablespoon of sherry 
1 tablespoon sea salt 
Freshly ground black pepper 
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
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        | 1  | Place the beans in a large pot, add water to cover and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and set aside for 1 hour. |  
  |  | 2   | Drain the beans, then add the 12 cups water, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.  Cook, covered, for 1 1/2 hours. |  
  |  | 3   | Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  If the bacon is very lean, add a little olive oil.  Reserve 1/2 cup bell pepper for later use.  Add the onion, celery, remaining peppers and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more.  (If dry add a bit of oil.) Remove from heat, then add vinegar, scraping up brown bits. |  
  |  | 4   | When the beans have cooked for 1-1/2 hours, add the bacon mixture to the beans.  Stir in brown sugar and continue simmering about 1 1/2 hours more.  Beans should be tender. |  
  |  | 5   | 10-15 minutes before the beans are done, add the sherry and the reserved bell pepper.  Just before serving, season with the salt and pepper to taste, and stir in the cilantro. |  
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    | Yield | 
	
	
		
    
				
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            original recipe yield: 10 Servings
          
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