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These Charro Bean Tostadas have been my lunch for the past four days.  And I'm still not tired of them 🙂 Keep some Charro Beans in the fridge and meals like this will come together in a matter of minutes.  And they taste better than all the takeout options near me.  And they are significantly cheaper. Sound too good to be true?!  Here's how to make them....

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The key, of course, is to make a big batch of Charro Beans.  It's super easy and these are some of the most satisfying frijoles you'll ever taste. I use bacon to create their unique heartiness, but you're also welcome to add in some chorizo or ham if that's what you have available. Start by roasting 4-5 plum tomatoes in the oven at 400F.

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Then chop up 1/2 lb. of bacon and cook it in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the bacon has browned add a finely chopped 1/2 onion.  Cook for a few minutes and then add 2 minced garlic cloves.

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Then we'll add the remaining ingredients to the pan: the roasted tomatoes 2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed 2 cups stock (or water) 3 minced chipotles in adobo 1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano  1/2 teaspoon salt freshly cracked black pepper

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Bring this mixture up to a simmer and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, covered. Be sure to give a final taste for seasoning as beans are hypersensitive to salt.  I added another generous pinch after the simmer, so that is a heaping teaspoon total for this batch.

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Blending some of the beans into a puree works great for Tostadas so let's do that.  I usually blend about half of the pot and leave the other half as is. Simply add half of the beans to a blender along with a few spoonfuls of broth.  Combine well.  If the mixture isn't combining readily just add a few more splashes of the broth.

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Now it's just a matter of spreading the Charro Bean awesomeness on a warm Tostada shell.  I added some Pickled Jalapenos to this batch as well. 

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And topped with: Queso Fresco  freshly chopped cilantro a squeeze of lime And they were dee-licious.  Like....off the charts dee-licious :)

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Okay, I hope you try out these Charro Bean Tostadas! It's such a simple, satisfying meal and I come back to it on a regular basis.  Let me know if you have any questions about it.   Click the 'Get the recipe!' button below to see the full instructions.  Enjoy!!