Calito (Addition for Navajo Beans)

This recipe comes from my Grandpa Tano, who learned it from his mother. This is the name he called this dish but I believe it is closely related to Caldillo, which is a northern New Mexico soup. We use this dish to be added to the Navajo beans recipe to add a little more texture, spice, and meat.

Ingredients:

  • 2 celery stocks
  • 1 whole onion
  • (Add to taste) whatever type of green color chile you like. Prefer Hatch green chile, but jalapenos work.
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • salt & pepper
  • [can add potatoes but no necessary]

directions:

  1. chop all vegetables to bite size pieces including chile
  2. add ground beef to a pot (not a pan) and brown
  3. drain any excess oil from the meat
  4. add vegetables and just slightly saute (not all the way soft just fragrant)
  5. add enough water to cover the mixture and bring to boil then turn to a slow simmer
  6. allow to cook for as little as 5 minutes or leave on the stove to allow flavors to mix
  7. if using potatoes, let the mixture cook until potatoes are soft