Pinto beans contain trace mineral molybdenum.
Pinto beans are small oval, pale pink beans with red brown streaks or splotches, according to Food.com. Their streaks give them their name, "pinto" which means "painted" in Spanish. Red-brown markings disappear upon cooking and beans turn solid pink. A good source of fiber, use pinto beans in soups, stews, salads and chilies.
Soups and Stews
Pinto beans may be used in a variety of soup recipes including vegetarian recipes such as hearty pinto bean stew from "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. Stew includes tomato soup, crushed garlic, oregano, crushed red peppers and other seasonings. Pinto beans can be utilized in meat stew recipes such as pinto bean and andouille sausage stew, which features andouille sausage, bacon, smoked paprika, peppers, onions and tomatoes. Frijoles is a pinto bean recipe from Mexico that is served as soupy broth or mashed and fried. Pinto beans and salt pork are used in both versions.
Chili
Chili is another use for pinto beans, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes available. Pinto bean chili can be made with ground beef and crushed tomatoes, celery ribs and onion or try a vegan version with dried New Mexico chilies, bell pepper, garlic, onion and diced tomato. More mild versions include those with vegetable stock, mild green chilies, corn kernels, fresh cilantro, red miso paste and smoked tofu. Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can be utilized to create ground turkey white pinto bean chili.
Dip
Pinto beans can be utilized to create pinto bean dips, such as one with fresh rosemary, olive oil, chopped garlic, ground pepper, lemon juice and parsley leaves with pureed pinto beans. Another version includes shredded cheese, green chilies, chopped tomato and a dash of hot pepper sauce. A coriander and chili pinto bean dip combines beans and coriander in a blender with paprika, vinegar, olive oil, cayenne pepper, and can be served with flat bread crackers.
Salads
Pinto beans are featured in a variety of salad recipes such as pinto bean salad with chopped tomato, thinly sliced red and green onions, fresh cilantro, fresh lemon and lime juice, salt, olive oil and garlic clove. Pinto bean salsa salad is another option and includes chili powder, orange or yellow bell pepper, avocado, corn kernels and cilantro. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagassi makes an organic tomato, spinach and pinto bean salad featuring carrots, celery, chicken stock, tomatoes, baby spinach, yellow onion and chopped garlic.
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