Charros corridos (quick spicy bean soup)

This is a take on classic frijoles charros (cowboy beans), the Northern Mexican bean soup where salchichas, or hot dogs, feature prominently, except that this is for charros who are in a hurry. The soup begins with building a flavorful sautéed base of onion, garlic, serrano and chopped tomato and, if desired, bacon. Finish it with your favorite vinegar-based hot sauce and serve with a side of warm corn tortillas for dipping. Because there are as many recipes for frijoles charros as there are people who make them, feel free to adjust based on just what kind of cowboy beans you’d like. Bulk up your soup by adding chopped dark leafy greens along with the beans, leave out the bacon, or add as much serrano as you want. This soup is designed to be adapted.