Easy Smoke Flavored Pinto Beans Food

EASY PINTO BEANS FROM SCRATCH (1 POT)

Steps:

• Add pinto beans to a large pot and cover with cool water (at least a few inches above the beans as they will expand). Soak for at least 6 hours or overnight* uncovered at room temperature.
• Once beans are soaked, drain and set aside.
• Heat your large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add olive oil, diced onion and garlic, and season with a healthy pinch each sea salt and black pepper (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Stir to coat and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is soft and translucent.
• Next add drained beans and bouillon cube and cover with water about 2 inches over the top, as the beans will expand while cooking. If using vegetable broth in place of a bouillon cube, add vegetable broth first, and then water so you don't add too much liquid.
• Add chipotle pepper and diced tomatoes, stir and bring to a low boil. Then reduce heat to low or medium-low and simmer for 40-50 minutes (time as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), or until beans are tender.
• Once the beans are tender and cooked through add remaining seasonings: adobo sauce, salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon (optional). Stir to coat and cook on low for 10 more minutes to let the flavors meld.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt to taste, cumin for smokiness, chili for depth of flavor, cinnamon for warmth, or adobo sauce (and minced adobo peppers) for heat. You want them very well seasoned, so don't be shy!
• Your beans are now ready to enjoy! These make a delicious addition to burrito bowls, burritos, tacos, nachos, taco salads, veggie burgers, and more. You could also add them to chili!
• Store beans well covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Will keep in the freezer for 1 month (oftentimes longer).

SMOKY PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cover beans with cold water by 2 inches in a bowl; refrigerate 8 hours.
• Drain beans; transfer to a small stockpot. Add onion, garlic, avocado leaves, epazote, and cilantro; cover with cold water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, adding water as needed to cover beans, until beans are tender and liquid is soupy, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Discard avocado leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with onion, tomatoes, and cheese. Serve with lime wedges.

EASY SMOKE-FLAVORED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• You will find a package of smoked turkey neck bones in the freezer section for about $2-3.
• Soak pinto beans overnight. Drain and rinse again.
• Pour drained beans into a 4-5 quart pot
• Add smoked turkey neck bones (or 2 smoked ham hocks)
• Cover with water that is 1-1/2 to 2 inches over the beans and neck bones bones or hocks.
• Bring to boil and then reduce heat to low and cover.
• Cook for about 5 hours until the beans are tender and the water is a kind of gravy.
• Check every hour or so to make sure that the water level is at least 1 inch higher than the beans.
• Remove from heat and remove neck bones or hocks.
• Serve with bread or rolls to dip into the gravy water.
• NOTE: This does very well cooking all day in a crock pot set on low in the morning.
• And the beans only taste better the next day and the next and the next.

SIMPLE PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Pick over the beans for small rocks or debris. Rinse well, then cover with cold water and soak for 6 hours or overnight.
• Transfer beans to a soup pot and add water to cover by 1 inch. Add onion, bay leaf and bacon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a bare simmer, partly cover pot with lid, and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in salt, paprika and cayenne, then continue simmering until beans are soft and creamy and the broth is well seasoned and lightly thickened, about 1 hour more. Remove bacon and chop roughly, then return to pot. (Dish may be prepared up to 2 days ahead.)

SMOKY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add whole garlic cloves and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes.
• Smash garlic cloves with a fork just enough to break them open and flatten them a little.
• Add pintos and liquid and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Add spices and salt to taste. Stir well.
• Turn the heat down to medium-low and smash beans with a big fork. You don't have to smash every single bean. Leave some whole for texture.
• When mashed to your liking, squeeze the lime juice all over the beans and serve warm.
• These beans make a great taco filling or tostada topping. My husband likes them mixed with a little salsa and eaten as a dip.