Place the water and ham hock in a pressure cooker, check to make sure the steam release holes are clear and cook for 5 minutes. Add the pinto beans and cook 20 minutes more. Add the rice, and when the pressure cooker "hisses," cook for another 5 minutes.

While the rice and beans cook, heat the oil in a large skillet and saute the onion and garlic until the onion becomes translucent. Add the red pepper, jalapeno peppers, oregano and tomatoes, stirring and chopping as you go. Add 1/4 c of the reserved tomato juice, half of the salt and half of the pepper. Lower the heat and simmer 15 minutes.

After the rice and beans have cooked, remove the ham hock, slice off 2 ounces of lean meat and reserve. Add the cooked rice and beans to the pepper-tomato mixture in the skillet. Stir in the reserved ham hock meat, 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, the capers and the remaining salt and pepper.

To serve: Spoon into bowls and garnish with the remaining cilantro. My personal notes:

The recipe is very flexible in the type of chiles used. I usually blend a couple of types for complexity. The dish is also great for splashing on your favorite hot sauce too. I also usually add beer instead of water when things are looking a bit too dry. It also can be fun to mix in a few different types of beans, like black beans and pintos. It isn't a requirement to use a pressure cooker, but it is fast and the flavor from the ham hock to the beans is greater.

From: the First Bay Area Chile Heads HotLuck
Posted By: The Chile-Heads Recipe Collection
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