A Little Spice Is Nice
Pinto Beans image from public domain |
As I mentioned a while back in an article about soft foods, I really like to eat pinto beans. They are a wonderful source of fiber and protein and a good substitute for meat. They are low in saturated fats and offer a source of manganese and folate along with being helpful in lowering HDL and LDL cholesterol. Besides the health benefits, they just taste good!
So, my husband brings home his little discovery and I decide that they might be good as a topping for a loaded potato. I baked a couple of potatoes, heated up the can of pinto beans and voila we had a meal!
We sprinkled just a little bit of cheese on top and the results were absolutely delicious! The pinto beans are in a tomato sauce with onion, garlic, serrano peppers and just a touch of bacon. The flavor on top of the potato was really awesome!
I have decided that a can or two of these beans will now be a staple on my pantry shelves. There are so many ways that they can be served. Alone as a side dish is an obvious choice. I plan to add a can the next time I make chili because I think they will add a little kick to the dish. I also, think they might be really good if I make them into refried beans.
You might worry that the serrano pepper will make these pinto beans pretty hot. It is true that the serrano is hotter than the jalapeno but to be honest I didn't think these beans were too hot. I like spicy foods but I don't like the heat level to be much more than medium. Honestly, these beans had just the right amount of heat for my palate. They were a little hot but not so much that I had to grab water or wipe tears from my eyes. I wouldn't like that.
So, if you are looking for something new to add to your menu I suggest you give these pinto beans with a Latin style of flavoring a try. We liked them so much that we plan to try the other flavors that the company offers in this line called Cocina Latina.
I am always seeking a new recipe or food to add to our dinner variety. Having a new bean to add to the list will make any dinner seem new, even if the main course is a long standing favorite. We like things mildly hot too and Bushs is definitely a trusted brand in our household.
ReplyDeleteThese Latin style pinto beans sound like something my son and his family would really enjoy. I am not into spicy foods at all, but all the rest of my family is. I'll pass this along.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this review! I make a lot of quesadillas. These beans sound like a perfect addition to them.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look for these beans the next time I make a grocery run. Thanks for the tip. I expect to really enjoy a little kick with the spices in this particular style of pinto bean. That was a great idea to try them on a loaded baked potato. My kind of meal.
ReplyDeleteThese would really work great in a nice chili recipe. I really like your idea of serving these over a baked potato. I never gave that a thought, and will have to give that one a try for sure. Thank your husband for me :)
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