The Durango style white lima beans (patoles durangueños)
The Durango style Patoles, one of those special dishes that seem so typical in one place, but to anyone who has lived just a few kilometers away will not have ever come across it; the other interesting thing is that the people who make this authentic dish are not particuliarly fond of sharing their special recipe...
The white lima beans, also known as Phaseolus lunatus, are bigger beans with a nice earthy taste that combines very well with the meat included in this recipe; they can be white or green, white lima beans have many known health benefits.
Basically this recipe starts with an onion, sausage, bacon, diced ham and chorizo, all sauteed in a pot before adding to the previously cooked white beans, a little salt, simmer over medium heat so the aromas combine, adjust salt, add a little pepper if you want and go: serve this dish with the pickled chiles called tornachiles or some gueros.
Recipe from Durango for White Lima Beans
* 1 and 1/2 lb. dry white lima beans
* 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
* Salt to taste
* 1 onion, finely chopped
* 1/2 cup softened lard
* 1/2 lb. chopped chorizo
* 1/2 lb. diced ham
* 1/2 lb. sliced bacon
* 1/2 cup mexican beer
* 6 pickled chiles, tornachiles type
Making this recipe:
1) Cook the white beans in boiling water, with enough water to cover them and the garlic. When they are tender, strain to discard all the water and add salt.
2) In a saucepan, start by cooking the bacon, then add the lard, mix in and fry the onion; when the onion is translucent add the chorizo, the diced ham, and fry a little longer until the chorizo is cooked.
3) Pour the beans in the saucepan, add the half cup beer and simmer everything for five to ten minutes. Served garnished with the tornachiles, one per bowl.
