Pinto Beans and Rice is a one-dish Southern menu item you'll find in every restaurant and home south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Here's how to season and cook the perfect pinto beans!
8cupswater or broth, most Southerner's use chicken or beef broth
2tablespoonssalt, for overnight soaking; table salt
2tablespoonsonion powder or 1 cup fresh, diced onion
2tablespoonsgarlic powder
2cups rice, brown or white rice, cooked
1smoked hamhock(optional)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Quick Soak Method
Rinse and drain beans
Place beans in a large Dutch oven on the stove top; add enough liquid to cover by 2 inches; boil for 15 minutes, turn off the heat and put a lid on; let them sit for about an hour
1 lb. dried pinto beans, 8 cups water or broth
After one hour add onion, garlic and 1 teaspoon of black pepper and bring the beans back to simmer or low heat and cook until tender, uncovered; additional water or broth may need to be added during the cooking process; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly
Rinse and drain beans; place them in a large bowl, add 2 tablespoons salt, add enough liquid to cover the beans by 2 inches; cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow beans to soak overnight on the counter
1 lb. dried pinto beans, 2 tablespoons salt
The next day, drain the beans; do not rinse
Stove Top Method
Put beans in large Dutch oven with onion and garlic powder, liquid and protein (optional). Cook on low heat, uncovered, for 3-4 hours or until tender; check liquid level frequently; add more if needed; when tender, taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly
Place soaked beans in slow cooker; add garlic and onion powder, protein (optional) in slow cooker and cover with water or broth; cook on medium 6-8 hours; season to taste with salt and pepper
Pressure Cooker Method
Add soaked or unsoaked beans, protein (optional), garlic and onion powder and 8 cups of water or broth in pressure cooker
Set Pressure cooker to "manual" or "pressure cook" and cook on high for 45 minutes (unsoaked beans) or 20 minutes (soaked beans.)
After the cooking time, let pressure cooker rest for 20 minutes; after 20 minutes, do a quick release on pressure cooker
Taste for seasonings and serve.
salt and pepper to taste
Rice Preparation
Add water and rice to saucepan; bring to boil
2 cups rice
Reduce heat to simmer, cover rice and simmer until rice is fluffy
Notes
Do not refrigerate soaking beansSeasoning:If you don't have a smoked ham hock or fat back, use bacon.Cut up 3-4 pieces of bacon and fry them in a stockpot; once crispy, add the beans, broth, etc. Variations: If you're making a variation of this basic recipe (like Mexican or Southwestern), add those ingredients to the beans at the beginning. Rotel™ tomatoesDiced tomatoesJalapenoGreen bell pepperSausageFeel free to add more onion and/or garlic powder to taste