Beans are a staple in Mexican cuisine, and they are used in all sorts of delicacies. 

Borracho beans and charro beans are two preparations made from beans, and they are quite popular on the menus of Tex-mex restaurants.

These dishes are full of flavor, and sometimes, they are served together with tortilla chips as savory bean dips.

Borracho beans can be compared to charro beans; they are both made from pinto beans and contain other similar ingredients.

These dishes are nearly the same in appearance that you may even assume that they are the same dish. 

So, what’s the difference between these two dishes? Despite sharing a lot of similarities, the distinction between Borracho beans and charro beans comes down to one key ingredient; beer.

Borracho beans are cooked with beer

The Spanish name for Borracho beans is Frijoles Borracho which means drunken beans in English 

This dish is known by this name because the beans are cooked in a beer. 

In Borracho beans, the beans are simmered in a sauce that is made from dark Mexican beer. On the other hand, the cooking liquid for charro beans may simply be water or broth. 

Beer may seem like an unlikely ingredient to go with beans, but the addition of beer to Borracho beans gives this dish a unique flavor that is enjoyable.

The beer sauce can also be seasoned with chili peppers, diced tomatoes, bacon, onion, garlic, ham, cilantro, oregano, and cumin, 

How Borracho beans is made

The dish starts out by sautéing bacon, onion and garlic, and then adding the beer together with some broth,

Peppers, tomatoes and various seasonings are added to the dish for flavor and then the beans.

In charro beans, the beans are simmered in a beef or chicken broth alone without the beer 

Borracho beans and charro beans are both made with pinto beans 

Dried or canned pinto beans can be used to make this dish 

Black beans can also be used together with the pinto beans in these dishes.

The dish can be garnished with cilantro. It can also be topped with cheese and sour cream. 

Conclusion

Charro and Borracho beans are filling dishes that are made with cheap ingredients 

They can be eaten on its own, these dishes can also be served together with other foods 

 They could also be used as dips served with tortilla chips or served over rice and tortillas. 

 Borracho and charro beans can also be served as a filling for tacos and enchiladas.