Pinto beans are America’s most popular bean and for good reason! They’re tasty, versatile, and high in protein. While this bean is most commonly associated with Mexican cooking, it has also found its way into the menus of Southern comfort food favorites.
Pinto beans can go well as main or side dishes. Cornbread, ham, and meatloaves are among the various foods that you eat pinto beans with.
What is the best substitute for pinto beans? If you don’t have pinto beans on hand, use one of the following beans instead: Black beans, they are the best options because they taste similar to pinto beans, Navy beans (they are a great option), Pinquito beans are another great option, the downside to using them is that they are very hard to come by. Cranberry beans, as well as Great Northern beans, are excellent options too. Great northern beans are however slightly bigger than pinto beans.
An overview of Pinto beans
Pinto beans are spotted legumes that are part of the Phaseolus vulgaris scientific family, which also contains navy, kidney, and black beans. Pinto beans are a prominent ingredient in many Mexican cuisines and are said to be native to Central and South America. Although the United States consumes more of these beans than almost any other country, they are consumed — and easily available — in almost every other country.
Pinto beans are one of the most popular beans in the world, and they’re usually available in a variety of forms, from dry to canned, as well as in a variety of ready-to-eat dishes. However, they’re frequently mistaken for other beans, such as cranberry or borlotti beans due to their similar appearance, or kidney beans due to their common use in similar dishes.
Why replace pinto beans?
- There is a couple of reason why you might want to replace rotel and some of them are:
- The desire for a new taste: If you are accustomed to using pinto regularly, you might find yourself desiring another taste from time to time, and this is when the interest for a substitute comes in
- Unavailability: Another reason you might want to use a substitute is if you don’t have any pinto beans on hand. You may want to look for the next best option if pinto beans are unavailable in malls or supermarkets.
- Damaged goods: If pinto beans are damaged or spoilt, you will need to acquire a replacement as soon as possible if you do not have access to new ones.
Options for pinto beans
The best substitute for pinto beans: Navy beans
Navy beans have a similar feel to pinto beans, despite their smaller size. The two beans have a similar flavor profile. Both have a mellow, creamy flavor, with the navy bean being milder than the pinto.
Navy beans can be used as a substitute for pinto beans if they aren’t the main flavor in the recipe. They’re ideal for casseroles, Mexican cuisine, and other multi-ingredient recipes.
Other substitutes for pinto beans: Black beans
In terms of taste, texture, and size, black beans are extremely similar to pinto beans. They’re the greatest substitute for pinto beans if you don’t have any on hand. Each bean has a keel, which is a white mark on the surface. The average black bean is oval in shape and medium to small in size, making it slightly smaller than the average pinto bean.
Other substitutes include kidney beans, although they might not look like great alternatives at first glance, they are not so far-fetched from pinto beans
