Pinto Bean Recipes Are Nutritious and Inexpensive

With the cost of food rising, family cooks everywhere are faced with the dilemma of finding affordable yet nutritious meals to prepare for their families. One of those items is the pinto bean.

These delicious beans are a staple of many Mexican and border restaurants and family homes throughout the Southwest. As the popularity of Mexican food increases across the country, you’ll find pinto beans prepared in a variety of ways at many restaurants across states.

These beans are not only delicious and inexpensive, but also contain an important source of nutrients needed by the human body. They contain starch, protein, fiber, iron, vitamin B6 and folic acid. The nutrients are great for the digestive system and the heart.

Dried pinto beans are available all year. They are also available cooked and canned, but the price of canned beans almost doubles compared to dry beans. The average cost of pinto beans is about $1.25 per pound. But if you buy from the containers in bulk, you’ll see even bigger savings. To save money when shopping for groceries, it makes sense to buy the beans dried and cook them at home. They are very simple to prepare. Once cooked, in a covered container, in the refrigerator, they will last approximately three days. One cup of dry pinto beans makes about 3 cups of cooked beans.

The versatility of the pinto bean complements many American and border dishes. Cooks can make them as a side dish with almost any main dish they choose. They go great with Mexican dishes like bistec tampiqueña, en chile, in breakfast burritos, with enchiladas and tacos. You can simmer them with a ham knuckle, onions, chorizo ​​(Mexican sausage), and green chile. You can refry the cooked beans with cheese, red chili powder, cumin, a little milk, chopped onion, and chopped cooked steak. It can be made into a pate and served on sliced ​​French baguettes and toast as an appetizer. Bean soup is also quite tasty on cold winter days.

Here are some easy recipes that you can prepare. Remember, recipes are not set in stone. They are simply guidelines and ideas that you can take and adapt as your own. Experiment. Add ingredients that your family would enjoy. Remove ingredients you know wouldn’t. Just remember that when you’re trying to save on the high cost of food, there are simple foods like pinto beans that you can make for your family and know that they’re not only tasty and inexpensive, but nutritious as well. Enjoy.

basic cooking method:

2 cups of raw pinto beans

10 cups of water

Before cooking the beans, they must be picked to remove any pebbles or debris. Once this is done, let them soak in water overnight in the refrigerator. If you forget to soak them overnight, don’t worry. Place the cleaned beans in a pot and cover with water. Heat over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil Cover and turn off the heat. Let the beans sit for about an hour to soften.

Drain the soaking water and rinse the beans. Cover them with fresh water making sure the water level rises about 2 inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer the beans for about 2 hours until just tender. Don’t season the beans until the cooking process is almost complete, otherwise the skin tends to get tough and dark.

Refried beans

Melt about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in a large skillet. If you don’t have bacon fat, use shortening, but bacon fat will give the beans a much better flavor. Add 1/2 small onion, chopped, and 1/2 cup chopped green chile, or chorizo ​​strip. Add 2 cups of the cooked and drained pinto beans to the skillet. Using a potato masher, mash the beans into a rough puree. If you see that the beans are getting too dry, add a little milk. Season with 1/4 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. When the beans reach a smoking consistency, top with 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Allow the cheese to begin to melt, then serve while still warm.