Calabacitas con Puerco y Frijoles Refritos (Pork and Courgette Stew with Beans)
Tender pork simmered in ranchera sauce with courgettes and sweetcorn, served with refried beans and warm corn tortillas.
Made with Salsa ranchera and Corn tortillas from masa harina and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.70 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium high heat. Brown the pork with the salt for 8 minutes, turning, until golden on most sides.
8 min - 2
Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
5 min - 3
Pour in your ready made salsa ranchera (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 30 minutes, until the pork is tender.
30 min - 4
Add the courgettes and sweetcorn. Cook uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring now and then, until the courgettes are just tender and the sauce is thick.
11 min - 5
Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of water, stirring, until steaming hot all the way through. Warm the corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan.
- 6
Scatter the stew with coriander and serve with the beans and tortillas.
Tips
- Add the courgettes only in the last 12 minutes. They go watery and soft if cooked with the pork.
- Pork shoulder gives the best tender, rich result. Lean pork loin dries out in a stew.
- Taste for salt at the end, because the salsa and beans will change how salty it seems.
- Add a diced poblano chilli with the onion if you like extra flavour.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze the pork stew without the courgettes for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What are calabacitas?
Calabacitas means little squashes. In Mexico it is a home dish of courgettes cooked with onion, tomato and sweetcorn, often with a little pork, and served with beans and tortillas.
Can I make it without pork?
Yes. Skip the pork and start by frying the onion. The vegetables and ranchera sauce make a good vegan dish, and you can add cheese if you eat dairy.
Can I freeze it?
Freeze the stew before adding the courgettes, for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge, reheat until steaming hot, then add fresh courgettes and cook for 10 minutes.
More made with salsa ranchera
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.