Pinto Beans – Reboot

A reboot from 2007, updated to use the instapot.

As I spoke in my reboot of corn bread, Pinto Beans a a perfect accompaniment.   But is it Pinto Beans, or refried beans ?   That is a fairly simple item, re-fried beans are cooked pinto beans that have been mashed and mixed with some form of fat, traditionally lard, often times additional spices / seasonings (smoked meats) will be added.

Since this is a reboot, I’ll update to use modern cooking tools, I.E. the instapot, and update to meet the existing dietary requirements as well as the existing time requirements.

A lot has been written on soaking beans, so I’ll summarize here.

Cooking methods for beans:

• Soak overnight, simmer in a stock pot
• Boil for 3 minutes, soak for 4-8 hours, simmer in stock pot
• Boil for 6 minutes, soak for 1 hour, simmer in a stock pot
• Place in instapot, add all ingredients, cook for 45 minutes

Now, since I do have an active life, and wander in at all hours of the night, I tend to forget the soak overnight, and the next two also really do not match my life timeline, so InstaPot it is.

Two steps that can not be skipped, sort / inspect the beans, discard any damaged, withered beans, and any other material (yep, I have found rocks in my beans), then rinse completely and drain.

Pinto Beans

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of steaming hot, creamy, smoky Pinto Beans? Add a side of corn bread, and there is not a better comfort food meal.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 10 1/2 Cup

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Southwestern

Calories: 9

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 Bag Pinto Beans 16 oz.
• 1 Ea Large Sweet Onion Peeled, diced
• 1 tbsp Roasted Garlic Mashed
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 6 Cups Broth Chicken or Vegetable
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
• 1 ea Jalapeno Pepper Large, washed, seeded, stemmed, diced
• 1 dash Liquid Smoke

Method

 

1. Rinse the bag of beans well and remove any that look bad; Drain well
2. Add all to InstaPot Select Chili/Beans Set time for 45 Minutes Make sure the vent is set to seal
3. After cooking let the pressure release normally. Do not vent let this drain, this takes about 25 minutes
4. If you want, one can take a cup of the beans and mash / blend and return to ass a creaminess

Nutrition

Calories: 9kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 683mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 340IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg

Notes

This is built Vegan / Vegetarian, one can add thick cut bacon, ham bones, smoked ham hocks...

I serve with cornbread, if the beans are too thick one can thin with water or broth.

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