Today: Unusual Dried Beans -- Rattlesnake Beans With Chorizo And Tomatoes)

Recipes on this page were developed or tested by CeCe Sullivan of The Times food staff and were evaluated by staff members.

Rattlesnake Beans with Chorizo and Tomatoes

10 servings

1 1/2 cups rattlesnake beans

1/2 pound chorizo (Spanish sausage)

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped

2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 Anaheim chili, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, left whole

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 cups beef broth

1 cup water

2 medium tomatoes, seeded and cut into chunks

About 1 cup coarsely shredded Jack cheese

1 large lime, cut into 10 wedges

1. Place the beans in a bowl and add water to cover by several inches. Cover with a plate and let soak overnight. Drain beans and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer beans 30 minutes. (The beans will not be tender at this point.) Drain and set aside.

2. Crumble the chorizo into a large Dutch oven and brown over medium-high heat; remove with a slotted spoon. Heat the olive oil in the same pan and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add the red and green bell peppers, the Anaheim chili, jalapeno and black pepper; saute for 2 minutes.

3. Stir the beans, beef broth and water into the vegetables. Put the chorizo back into the pan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Taste the liquid and remove the jalapeno if the dish is getting too hot. Add the tomatoes and continue to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir often to prevent sticking; add a little more water if necessary. The finished dish should be thickened but not dry.

4. Let each person add cheese and lime juice to the beans.

Note: Pinto beans can be used in place of rattlesnake beans in this recipe.

Data per serving Calories 211 Protein 12g Fat 11g Carbohydrates 17g Sodium 484mg Saturated fat 5g Monounsaturated fat 5g Polyunsaturated fat 1g Cholesterol 15mg