I need an easy- to- remember formula for pinto beans.?!
Answers: How many cups of beans per cups of water? And do I HAVE to simmer them all day?
Cooking the Beans
Collect: one large pot with a lid, two cups of dried beans.
Take a quick look through the beans to make sure that there aren't any little rocks in there. Even the best companies make mistakes. Dump the beans in the pot, fill the pot with water, and put on the stove. Get the water boiling for two minutes, then cover with the lid and turn off the heat. Let the beans steam for an hour. This will soften them up without the hassles of soaking them overnight. After an hour, bring them back to a boil, then simmer until tender (1.5-2 hours.) Do not add salt until the beans are done cooking. The salt will keep the beans from softening.
At this point, you can use the beans in your favorite recipe or just stick them in the refridgerator (still in the broth) and wait until later in the week to finish them up. By the way, don't throw out the broth! It'll keep the beans from drying out and it makes a lovely soup base.
I let my beans soak in water over night. Then I get a separate pot of water to boil, then add the beans and cook them for about one hour over medium heat...just depends on what the package instructions says to do. I like to add some pieces of country ham (my favorite)...or cooked pork or chicken and let cook for about another 30 - 45 minutes. If you use the country ham, you don't need to add salt, etc., it gets enough flavoring from the ham.
Leave out the hamhocks if you just want the beans.
Pinto Beans and Ham Hocks
This flavorful dish is filling and hearty with pinto beans and a little bit of hot sauce for spice.
Ingredients
3 smoked ham hocks
2 lb. dried pinto beans
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. hot sauce
1/2 medium chopped onion
Directions
Boil ham hocks on high heat for 45 minutes. Add all seasonings except hot sauce and onion. Continue boiling for 20 minutes. Add pinto beans, hot sauce, and onion. Boil on medium heat until beans are done to taste.
Note: To speed up cooking of beans and reduce the gas that beans produce, soak beans in cold water overnight or for three hours during the day. Serve with rice and a meat side dish. You can also use the ham hocks as your meat side dish. However, ham hocks are a high-fat food.