Ella Walter
Slow-cooked pinto beans are a delicious and easy meal to make, with a Western or Mexican flavour profile. They can be made in a crockpot or slow cooker with no pre-soaking required, although pre-soaking can reduce the cooking time. The basic recipe involves frying off some vegetables and spices, adding the beans and water, and then leaving to cook for 5-9 hours. The addition of sugar is not mentioned in most recipes, but one source mentions the use of brown sugar to amp up the flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Pinto beans, sugar, bacon, onion, jalapeno, ham hock, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, water |
| Preparation | Rinse beans, soak in water overnight, drain, add to crock pot with other ingredients, stir, cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours |
| Serving suggestions | Can be served as a side dish with cornbread, nachos, or tacos, or used in burritos, refried beans, or chili |
| Storage | Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for 2-3 months |
| Nutrition | Per serving: 138-227 kcal, 25-30g carbohydrates, 8-12g protein, 1-7g fat, 1-2g saturated fat, 10mg cholesterol, 486-947mg sodium, 587-708mg potassium, 6-8g fiber, 1-2g sugar, 3.7-8mg Vitamin C, 49-62mg Calcium, 2-2.7mg Iron |
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Soaking the beans
If you forgot to soak the beans overnight, you can quickly soak them by placing them in a large cooking pot and covering them with hot water by about two inches. Bring the water to a rapid boil and boil the beans for two minutes. Then, remove the pot from the heat and cover it with a lid. You can also add a small amount of baking soda to the water when soaking the beans, as it is believed to reduce the effect of complex sugars and decrease the gas-causing properties of the beans. However, it is essential to rinse the beans thoroughly after soaking to remove any residue.
After soaking the beans, drain and rinse them with cold water before transferring them to the crock pot. If you are in a hurry and want to reduce the cooking time, you can also soak the beans in hot water for just three hours before cooking. However, keep in mind that the extended cooking time in the crock pot also helps to tenderize the beans, so they don't necessarily need to be soaked beforehand.
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Sautéing the vegetables
Heat your chosen fat or oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped vegetables to the pan and stir to coat them evenly. Sauté the vegetables for about 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are softened and slightly browned. If you're using spices like cumin, cayenne, or chilli powder, now is a good time to add them to the pan and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly, to release their flavours.
If you're using garlic, it's best to add it towards the end of the sautéing process to avoid burning. Simply crush or mince your garlic cloves and add them to the pan, cooking for about 30 seconds to a minute until fragrant.
Once your vegetables are nicely sautéed, you can transfer them to your crock pot, ready for the next stage of the recipe. Remember, sautéing vegetables is a somewhat subjective process, so feel free to adjust the timing and seasoning to your taste.
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Adding meat
Slow-cooking is an ideal method for cooking less expensive cuts of meat, making them tender and tasty. You can add meat to your crockpot pinto beans in several ways, depending on your preference.
One option is to add bacon to your pinto beans. Start by sautéing some chopped bacon in a pan until it is crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan, leaving a tablespoon of the rendered fat, and use this to cook your vegetables. You can then stir the bacon back into the crockpot at the end of cooking.
Another option is to add ham to your pinto beans. You can use leftover ham from a ham bone, or add a ham hock to the beans as they slow cook. If using a ham hock, it is recommended to soak it in water for several hours first to prevent the beans from becoming too salty. After 4 hours of cooking, remove the ham hock, take the meat off the bone, and return the meat to the pot for the final hour of cooking.
You can also add ground meat to your pinto beans. Simply brown the ground meat in a skillet, drain it, and add it to the crockpot with the other ingredients.
In addition to meat, you can also add a variety of vegetables and spices to your pinto beans to enhance the flavor. Sautéed onion, jalapeno, and bell pepper are commonly used, along with spices such as cumin, cayenne, and chili powder. Chicken broth is also often added for extra flavor.
By adding meat and experimenting with different seasonings, you can create a hearty and flavorful crockpot of pinto beans that can be enjoyed as a main course or side dish.
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Seasoning
Salt and Pepper
Salt and pepper are basic seasonings that can enhance the flavour of your pinto beans. You can use regular table salt or, if you prefer a stronger salty taste, go for kosher salt. Adjust the amount of salt according to your taste preferences. Peppercorns, freshly ground or otherwise, can add a subtle kick to the dish.
Spices
A variety of spices can be used to season crock pot pinto beans. Cumin is a popular choice, adding an earthy and warm flavour to the dish. Cayenne pepper can also be used to create a spicy kick, but be cautious with the amount you add, as too much can make the dish overly spicy. Other spices such as paprika, sage, thyme, and habanero can be added according to your taste preferences.
Vegetables
Sautéed onions and jalapeños are commonly used to season pinto beans. Cooking these vegetables beforehand enhances their flavour and makes the beans more delicious. You can also add bell peppers, either sweet or regular, to give the dish a slightly sweeter or more savoury taste.
Meat
Meats like bacon, ham, or chorizo sausage can be used to season the pinto beans. The meat adds a savoury, salty flavour to the dish. If using bacon, you can cook it until crisp and then use the rendered fat to cook the vegetables. Alternatively, you can add the meat directly to the crock pot to infuse its flavour into the beans.
Sweeteners
A small amount of sugar or brown sugar can be added to the crock pot to balance out the savoury flavours and add a touch of sweetness to the pinto beans. This can be adjusted to your taste preferences.
Broth
Chicken broth is commonly used as a base liquid for crock pot pinto beans. It adds flavour and moisture to the dish. If you don't have chicken broth, you can use water, or create your own broth by mixing dried Au Jus with water.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for pinto beans in a crock pot varies depending on the freshness of the beans and whether or not they have been soaked beforehand. If you want to reduce the cooking time, it is recommended to soak the beans overnight. This will also help to remove some of the "gas" from the beans.
If you choose to soak the beans, you can cook them on high for 4 to 6 hours. On low, soaked beans will take 8 to 10 hours to cook. If you are comfortable leaving your slow cooker plugged in, you can even cook them overnight.
If you do not soak the beans, they will need to be cooked for a longer period of time. On high, unsoaked beans will take 8 to 9 hours to cook. On low, they will take around 10 hours.
It is important to note that the total cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker model. Additionally, the ratio of beans to water may also affect the cooking time. Typically, 1 pound of beans to 4-6 cups of water is recommended, but this may need to be adjusted if you are doubling the recipe.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking times vary depending on the freshness of the beans and whether you soaked them beforehand. If you didn't soak the beans, you'll need to cook them for 8-10 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low. If you did soak the beans, you'll need to cook them for 4-6 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low.
You'll need dried pinto beans, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic, and chilies. You can also add cumin, bacon, onion, ham, jalapeños, and sugar to taste.
Soaking the beans beforehand is not required, but it can help reduce cooking time and remove some of the "gas" from the beans. If you do choose to soak the beans, cover them with hot water and let them sit overnight. In the morning, rinse and drain the beans before adding them to the crock pot.
Before adding the beans to the crock pot, sort through them and discard any rocks or pebble fragments. You can also sauté the vegetables before adding them to the crock pot to enhance the flavor. If you're using bacon, cook it until crisp in a pan before adding it to the crock pot.
