Black Beans With Chorizo

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 quart water (or more)
• 1 lb black beans, sorted and rinsed
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup lard, plus
• 2 teaspoons lard (or 1/4 c. plus 2 t.solid vegetable shortening)
• 2 large garlic cloves, halved
• 2 sprigs epazote or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 cup diced red onion
• 5 jalapenos, seeded, deveined and minced
• 1 lb chorizo sausage, casing removed
• salt
• 4 1/2 ounces grated cheddar cheese (about 1 1/8 cups) or 4 1/2 ounces monterey jack cheese (about 1 1/8 cups)
• finely chopped green onions (to garnish) or red onion, to garnish
• minced fresh cilantro leaves (garnish)

Recipe

• 1 bring water,beans,sliced onion,2 tablespoons lard and garlic to boil in heavy dutch oven.
• 2 reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• 3 add epazote (or oregano) and simmer until beans are tender, adding water as needed, about 30 minutes.
• 4 puree bean mixture through medium disc of food mill or coarsely chop in food processor using on/off turns; return to dutch oven.
• 5 heat remaining 1/4 cup lard in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat.
• 6 add 1 celsius red onions and 1 tablespoon minced chilies.;cover and cook until onion is translucent, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• 7 increase heat to medium-high, add sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking up with fork or potato masher, about 10 minutes.
• 8 add to beans and bring to a boil; reduce heat,cover and simmer until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• 9 add salt to taste.
• 10 cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.
• 11 bring beans to room temperature; taste and adjust seasoning.
• 12 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 13 grease a large casserole and fill with beans.
• 14 sprinkle with cheese, cover and bake until bubbling, about 20-30 minutes.
• 15 serve immediately, passing remaining chilies, green onion and cilantro separately.