BEAN info
What do cowboy beans have to do with Bratfest? Why are they
even on the menu?
These were added to give another side dish for the Fest. Given
that we started this in the Southwest, this gave a distinct
southwestern flavor to the Fest. In some places, these have
given way to baked beans, which are not at all the same, nor
do they share the same lore for their presence at the Fest.
These beans are the true originals.
From TrueWest: History of the American Frontier:
"Beans were a staple on the frontier. They're high in protein,
and they stick to your ribs. They were easy to pack and store,
until you were ready to cook up a batch. Pinto beans were the
choice of the cowboys, and they were even better if the
cocinero had some chili peppers to add spice.
Out on the trail, the chuckwagon cook soaked beans in a pot
during the day. He'd set up camp and cook up a batch, but
the beans would have to be eaten right away. Cooked beans
spoil or sour quickly, so cowhands didn't eat them on the
trail unless they were traveling with the chuckwagon.
Cowboys in a line shack or at the ranch without an icebox
would have had the same problem. They had to eat the beans
right away."
From the recipe below:
"Ranch style beans are typically made with pinto beans in a
chili gravy. They are similar to baked beans or 'pork and beans,'
but are not sweet like baked beans, and they don't normally
include bacon or pork. The zesty, bold, slightly spicy seasoning
is the hallmark of Ranch style beans, and includes garlic,
onion, chili powder, cumin and paprika (among other ingredients).
In grocery stores, you can find cans of beans labeled 'Chili Beans'
and 'Ranch Style Beans,' so what's the difference? While the
flavor of these two types of beans is very similar, and they're
both in a chili gravy, the taste is somewhat different. Chili
beans can be made with pinto beans (like Ranch style beans),
but they can also be made with red beans or kidney beans."
You can buy them pre-made (add in some jalepeños
for a kick)
or make your own, as below.
Ranch Style Beans, store-bought
This recipe seems more or less authentic (untested):
Ranch Style Beans Recipe