If you’ve never tried them, you may wonder, “What do pinto beans taste like?”. As beans go, pinto beans are relatively widespread and look quite tasty. So, it’s no wonder one might be tempted to try them.
In this post, you’ll learn more about pinto beans, their flavor, and how you can use them in your dishes. After reading this post, you’ll be keen to add pinto beans to your next meal.
Contents
What Are Pinto Beans?
The pinto bean is harvested from a plant from the family Phaseolus vulgaris. Navy beans, kidney beans, and black beans fall within the same family of beans. Most people believe that pinto beans came from Central or South America.
Research indicates that the US consumes more of these beans than any other country. However, they are frequently included in many popular dishes around the world. In modern Mexican cooking, for example, pinto beans pop up a great deal.
The word “pinto” comes from the Spanish word for “to paint” or “to spot”. Therefore, this bean gets its name from the way it looks. People call them “painted” or “mottled” beans because their skin is often tan or cream with reddish-brown spots.
What Do Pinto Beans Taste Like?
So, what do pinto beans taste like? In short, pinto beans have a similar taste to nuts and have a creamy texture. They also carry a distinctive but pleasant earthy taste. And they’re delicious, smooth, and blend in easily with other flavors.
This makes them a perfect addition to meals with intense flavors, as they won’t overpower the dish. In fact, pinto beans are more likely to absorb and enhance the dish’s intended flavors. Pinto beans can be used to make stuffing, soups, stews, and much more. They’re even great in salads.
The pinto bean is typically used to make mashed, cooked, or refried beans. And they’re readily available at most grocery stores. You’ll find pinto beans sold pre-cooked and preserved in cans or dried.
What Other Beans Are Similar To Pinto Beans?
Perhaps you’re still keen to know more about pinto beans before you taste them. Therefore, it may help to know which beans are similar to them. Some of the beans that are most like pinto beans are as follows:
Cannellini Beans
Cannellini beans, a type of Italian white bean, are slightly kidney-shaped with squared-off ends. They take on a light, airy texture and a subtle, nutty flavor when prepared.
These beans taste pretty similar to pinto beans and may work as a pinto bean replacement in any dish. Cannellini beans are also just about the same size as pinto beans. These highly nutritional beans are ideal for soups, stews, and dips.
Navy beans are one of the closest to pinto beans, except that they are smoother and whiter. They’re even the same size as pinto beans. When prepared, they are silky, creamy, and delicious. They also deliver an earthy flavor similar to pinto beans. And they tend to take on the flavors of the dishes they’re added to.
Conclusion
Knowing what pinto beans taste like is beneficial when using them for the first time. It’s also ideal to know their flavor when looking for a pinto bean substitute. But with the above information in hand, you should no longer be asking, “What do pinto beans taste like?”.