Chipotle Pinto Beans
Chipotle Pinto Beans
Pinto beans have several health benefits as well. They are a rich source of protein and dietary fiber. Furthermore, they also have other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Above all, these are vegan! All-in-all, pinto beans are a powerhouse, and you should definitely include them in your diet. Check out Instant Pot Pinto Beans, and Vegan Pinto Beans.
What Are Pinto Beans?
Pinto beans are probably the most common type of beans. These are widely used all over the world, especially in Mexico. The beans are smaller in size as compared to red beans. Furthermore, they are pinkish in color. They have an earthy flavor and a creamy texture.
What Is Chipotle Pepper?
A chipotle pepper is indigenous to Mexico. It is a Mexican pepper that is very frequently used in Mexican dishes to bring in heat.
Did you know that a chipotle pepper is actually a jalapeno that is dried? Yes, that’s right! A chipotle pepper is made by drying a red jalapeno that is fully ripened. As you dry it, the spice and flavors intensify, giving you a high spice level. Furthermore, they have a nice, smoky flavor with is their signature as well.
Where Can We Find Chipotle Pepper?
Finding Chipotle Pepper is relatively easy. You can find it in the International aisle of most grocery stores or at a Latino or Caribbean supermarket. Since these are dry, you will have to look at the dry spice aisle for them. However, if you can’t find them, you can use Chipotle Powder or Chipotle In Adobo Sauce. It is made from these dried peppers, so; the flavors will be just right. Also, check out Chipotle Lime Crema.
Furthermore, if you love spices, cooking, and creating your ingredients, you can make chipotle pepper at home as well. Of course, it will require a bit of technique and patient, but the end result will be amazing.
Now, to make chipotle pepper at home, you will need red jalapenos. These are ripped jalapenos that weren’t harvested early. Remove their stems and washed them. Pat the peppers dry and place them on a rack.
Next, you have to place the rack in a smoker for about 3 hours at 200-degree F. As for the wood chip is concerned, traditionally, pecan is used to make this Mexican wonder. But you can use oak as well.
Leave it in the smoker for about three hours. Once it is done, it will be nice and smoky. Next, you should place it in a dehydrator for about 10 hours at 200-degree F. once it is dried, let it come to room temperature. You can store it in a dry airtight container and enjoy its favor in every dish.
The process may seem tedious, but what’s better than making your chipotle from scratch?
Ingredients breakdown
What I really love about this recipe is that it is elementary. All the ingredients are readily available at any grocery store. So, you don’t have to look out for them specifically. Furthermore, the ingredients are not costly at all. Thus, the dish is super economical!
Pinto beans: the main ingredient is pinto beans. You can use either dry pint beans or canned. However, I really like to use dried beans because they are more nutritional and are quite cheap as well.
Vegetables: I use onion, garlic, and bell pepper for this recipe. But you can add any vegetables you like. Carrots work really well too.
Chipotle pepper: now, this is a special ingredient that brings Mexican flair to the dish. A chipotle pepper is a particular type of pepper indigenous to Mexico. It is spicy and perfect for bringing in the heat to the dish.
Seasonings: to bring in complexity of flavors, I use paprika and black pepper as well. I prefer to use smoked paprika because it gives a nice smoky flavor which is heavenly.
How to make chipotle pinto beans?
Making Chipotle Mexican Grille Pinto Beans is a piece of cake. Literally. You won’t find such a straightforward recipe anywhere else. Although the cooking time is a bit lengthy, the preparation time is just ten minutes. All you have to do is follow the steps mentioned below, and that’s it.
Step 1: first of all, you have to rinse beans to perfection. This way, you will get rid of all the junk and dirt. If you like, you can soak the beans for about 6 hours prior to cooking as well.
2: Heat oil in a saucepan and add garlic and chipotle peppers. Cook for 30 seconds and add onions and bell peppers. Give them a good stir and cook until the onions become translucent.
3: Next, add smoked paprika. Mix well.
4: Stir in rinsed pinto beans and cook for about 3-5 minutes until the beans get nice and toasty.
5: Pour in vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
6: Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for about an hour or until the beans are cooked to perfection.
Step 7: Serve.
Tips and tricks for perfect chipotle beans
Although making chipotle beans is straightforward, here are a few things you should keep in mind for perfect results:
- Make sure you rinse the beans at least two to three times to get rid of the dirt and debris.
- If you want the beans to cook rapidly or in less time, soak it for about six to eight hours before cooking. This way, it will cook a bit faster.
- If you want the beans to be free from causing a gas, soak them in water for about six to eight hours. This way, all the unwanted chemical that causes gas will be removed. Also, the beans will become easy to digest, as well. You could also cook them in a slow cooker for 6-8 hours so they cook slowly. Add epazote herb to the dish, it helps to reduce gas as well.
- Never add salt to the beans before they are cooked. If you do so, sometimes the beans won’t be tender. Always add salt after the beans are ready to be served.
- If you don’t have dried chipotle pepper, you can use chipotle in adobo sauce, chipotle sauce (make sure to read the label), or powder instead.
- You can add more vegetables to the dish according to your liking.
- Don’t forget to stir the mixture occasionally. This will help in cooking the beans evenly.
- Garnish it with fresh cilantro and a dollop of cashew cream for a good presentation.
How to store chipotle beans?
If you have leftover chipotle beans, you can place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. These will stay fresh for up to 3 days. However, make sure you cool the beans to room temperature before storing them.
Furthermore, you can also freeze these beans. Place them in an airtight container or portion them into zipper bags. Place these in the freezer for up to three months. When you want to reuse them, simply heat on the stove, adjust the seasonings, and that’s it.
How to serve chipotle beans?
You can serve chipotle with almost anything! It is such a versatile recipe. Here are a few ideas:
- You can eat it like soup without anything else.
- Serve it alongside cooked rice like Turmeric Coconut Rice, Jollof Rice, or Instant Pot Mexican Rice.
- Serve it with Flatbread.
- You can also serve it with a toasted bread slice.
- How about you create a bread bowl by adding chipotle to the bread bowl. It’s such a unique way of serving it.
- Mash the beans a bit using a masher and serve it as a dip with tortilla chips and nachos.
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Chipotle Pinto Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried pinto beans rinsed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1/2 medium bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 dried chipotle pepper broken into pieces
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place a medium saucepan on high heat and add olive oil.
- Once the oil is heated, add chopped garlic and broken chipotle peppers pieces and Sautee for 30 seconds.
- Add chopped onions and green bell pepper and sauté for about a minute.
- Next, add smoked paprika and mix well until the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add the rinsed pinto beans and mix well. Let it cook until all the liquid is evaporated and the pinto beans are toasted.
- Pour the vegetable stock and mix. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let the mixture simmer for 1 hour an hour or until the beans are cooked.
- Serve alongside rice or flatbread.
I like this recipe but could you please publish an instant pot version?
You could honestly toss all of this in an instant pot. just make sure you leave it in there with enough time to fully cook.
This sounds very delicious, I love chipotle beans!
Thank you for your feedback, I’m happy you enjoyed it.