MEXICAN PULLED PORK & PINTO BEANS

I love this versatile recipe. First of all it is all done in the crock pot in just a few hours with no need to pre-soak the beans and leftover possibilities are endless.

I make this with a 2 pound pork tenderloin, because it is nice a lean, but any pork roast will work. I have a large oval crock pot that tends to run a little hot, and this recipe is fall apart tender for me in 6 hours on low heat. Depending on your crock pot and the size of pork you use, it could take as many as 8 hours, but that is unlikely (just start checking for tenderness at 6 hours).
2 pounds (roughly) pork tenderloin
1 cup dry pinto beans (no need to soak)
(1) 4 ounce can of mild green chilies
3 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dry oregano
1 clove garlic minced
1 cup chopped sweet onion
healthy pinch of dry red pepper flakes (optional , see note)

Brown the pork well and put it in the crock pot. Saute the onions & garlic in the same pan and then mix them with the dry beans, spices, canned chilies then pour over the meat. Add just enough water to mostly cover the beans & meat, it should look like this:
Make sure the liquid gets under the meat as well. After cooking on low for 4 or 5 hours, check the liquid level in the crock pot and add a little more water if necessary, but not too much. This liquid makes the best red gravy!!

Take the meat out of the crock pot when it gets fork tender (remove any fatty pieces and bones) and pull it apart. Thicken the liquid in the crock pot with a cornstarch and water slurry, then put meat back in with the beans and gravy.

On the first night, I like to serve this over rice or corn chips, cheese avocado & sour cream. On the second night, it makes killer burritos like this:NOTE: A word about the heat or spice in this recipe. My hubby doesn't like much "heat" in his food. He likes strong flavors, he just doesn't like "fire" as he calls it. I use a very small pinch of dry red pepper flakes when I make this for him. If you like a little more "fire", just up the dry red pepper flake ingredient.

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