Pinto Beans

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

So this is one of the biggest weaknesses of our cook team.  Being a yankee, my only experience is with the sweet baked beans, not the pinto beans you get a Texas bbq places.

Anyone have a good recipe?  Ideally I'd chop up some burnt ends to throw in the pot, but since the bean turn-in time is about 2 hours before brisket, they wouldn't have enough time to get to know eachother before I had to submit them.

I'm firing up the pit next week for a small employee appreciation thing to cook some ribs and chicken wings and was wondering if there was another cut of meat I could smoke ahead of time in that same 4-6 hour time frame and reserve/freeze to use in my beans when the BBQ competition arrives.  I was thinking like a chuck roast or some other fatty beef cut.

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

This is probably a good place to start.
https://www.homesicktexan.com/2015/07/pinto-beans-aaron-franklin-barbecue.html

[Errestaurants 2570]

pound of beans washed and picked through. let soak overnight with water ( or google quick soak method)

1 onion rough chop

2 jalapenos left whole 

3 or 4  cloves garlic chopped

quarter pound or so of salt pork diced

1 smoked ham hock

water

salt to taste at the very end

in a pot on medium heat render the salt pork and ham hock for maybe 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapenos and onion. cook for 8 to 10 minutes. add the beans and water to cover the beans by 1 to 2 inches above the beans. bring to a boil and turn down to a slow simmer. at this point I like to partially cover and let cook for at least 2 hours or really more. stir occasionally. add more water as necessary. you want to cook long enough to see the "gravy" form. beans cooked right should be a little thick and not watery. once you see the gravy form add the salt to taste. good beans should take 3 to 4 hours. 

[TonyTexas 10525]

It’s interesting that Aaron soaks his beans in already spiced water. Also, soaking in chicken stock instead of water gives a richer dish. 

[elfenix 34332]

How much cook time is available?

[Walden Ponderer 12639]

I typically scoop a couple tablespoons of frozen apple juice concentrate on to give 'em just a hint of sweet without being cloying.

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

How much cook time is available?

Plenty. Cooking can start around 6pm, bean turn in is 11:30am. I’d probably soak the beans overnight and start cooking them around 5AMish.

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

Anyone have a preferred brand?

[elfenix 34332]

you have enough time to use serious eats' cassoulet method.  do that.  just use bbq seasonings and meats instead of french. i made red beans using camelia brand beans and cajun meats (smoked andouille, fresh andouille, tasso) and creole seasonings (cayenne, sage, trinity).  absolutely finominole. 

https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/10/traditional-french-cassoulet-recipe.html

 

 

edit: i should just come cook the beans for you

Edited October 17, 2019 by elfenix

[HenryJames 66169]

[next2naus 439]

You can order "Ranch Style Beans" online. I have been putting stew meat on the smoker, for about an hour covered in  a rub, then I chop those chunks to bit and add to the beans. 

[Walden Ponderer 12639]

57 minutes ago, hopkinsnhorns said:

Anyone have a preferred brand?

Jose Madragon's illegal variety is best.

 

[tx 3 putt 77396]

don't over think this hop :

pinto beans (of course) also use half chicken broth / half water 

large tub of HEB HOT pico de gallo (one tube per 1lb of beans)

two meaty chunks of pork salt or some good smoked sausage

generous amount of Bolner's Pinto Bean Seasoning

extra garlic powder

little extra chili powder

salt << be careful here because salty beans are horrible, but so are beans with no salt

two packets of GOYA Sazon seasonings 

optional : can of rotel

optional : small can of mild jalepenos or a little bit of chopped carrots and celery 

 

give them plenty of time to cook, you want them nice and soft 

Edited October 18, 2019 by tx 3 putt

[FizzleFish 137]

28 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

don't over think this hop :

pinto beans (of course) also use half chicken broth / half water 

large tub of HEB HOT pico de gallo (one tube per 1lb of beans)

two meaty chunks of pork salt or some good smoked sausage

generous amount of Bolner's Pinto Bean Seasoning

extra garlic powder

little extra chili powder

salt << be careful here because salty beans are horrible, but so are beans with no salt

two packets of GOYA Sazon seasonings 

optional : can of rotel

optional : small can of mild jalepenos or a little bit of chopped carrots and celery 

 

give them plenty of time to cook, you want them nice and soft 

Yes to the Sazon. 

[Gen. Applewhite 227]

2 hours ago, elfenix said:

you have enough time to use serious eats' cassoulet method.  do that.  just use bbq seasonings and meats instead of french.

[CooterBrown 18027]

1 lbs soaked pinto beans
Fiesta pinto bean seasoning
2 packs Sazon
Large yellow onion
4 jalapeños
Smoked ham hock
Beef stock

Simple and delicious.

To turn it up to 11:
Smoke a pack pork country “ribs”. Finish by braising in bbq sauce and onions on the smoker until tender. Remove and put the beans on the smoker. About half way, put the ribs and braising liquid in the beans and finish cooking. Best pork and beans ever.

[RMac5 1551]

Don’t stir em to often, makes them more creamy, I like the bean juice to be more clear.

[dcbc 14508]

For those who are like me and forget to plan ahead, 1 hour in the Instant Pot turns out some good pinto beans as well.

[Steamboat1874 4086]

All of those are fine but the best pinto beans are as follows........

Salt

Pepper

3 or 4 whole pieces of bacon

That's it.

That's the list.

[CooterBrown 18027]

1 hour ago, dcbc said:

For those who are like me and forget to plan ahead, 1 hour in the Instant Pot turns out some good pinto beans as well.

I can't remember the exact cooking time but I remember thinking if I did it again, I'd cut off 10 minutes of the recipe and check them at that point. 

[irishtexan 11522]

Smoke some beef cheeks ahead of time. Tastes like brisket. Done in 5 hours or less. Throw them in using one of the recipes above.

[Dutch 4479]

18 hours ago, hopkinsnhorns said:

This is probably a good place to start.
https://www.homesicktexan.com/2015/07/pinto-beans-aaron-franklin-barbecue.html

I got this recipe from his book, and they cook up quite tasty. He calls for 1.5 T of kosher salt, but I've found that a bit salty for my taste.  I start with 2t and add as needed while cooking.  Don't skimp on the brisket.  A bit of pork shoulder and/or sausage takes it up another notch.

Edited October 18, 2019 by Dutch

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

I've got to fire up the smoker next week for a few hours and was looking for a brisket substitute for the beans I could smoke during that time.  Even if it's not done, I can wrap and finish whatever in the oven to achieve the desired tenderness.  I was thinking maybe a chuck roast, which I could shred and freeze to add to the beans during the competition.  Any ideas on what cut would be good?  The alternative is to go with salt pork and smoked hocks, but I think beef would be a better option to set me apart.

[SimonBolivar 10959]

15 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

don't over think this hop :

pinto beans (of course) also use half chicken broth / half water 

large tub of HEB HOT pico de gallo (one tube per 1lb of beans)

two meaty chunks of pork salt or some good smoked sausage

generous amount of Bolner's Pinto Bean Seasoning

extra garlic powder

little extra chili powder

salt << be careful here because salty beans are horrible, but so are beans with no salt

two packets of GOYA Sazon seasonings 

optional : can of rotel

optional : small can of mild jalepenos or a little bit of chopped carrots and celery 

 

give them plenty of time to cook, you want them nice and soft 

I just hit up the produce section

 

beans

cebolla

garlic

tomato

jalapenos

oregano

leftover fatty pork or beef

salt

 

Fin.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2019 by SimonBolivar

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3868]

Simmer with Clamato. Adds both msg and some high fructose corn syrup. There is a big thread at Texags on using Clamato in making pintos.  https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/1394477/1#discussion

Edited October 19, 2019 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

11 hours ago, Steamboat1874 said:

All of those are fine but the best pinto beans are as follows........

Salt

Pepper

3 or 4 whole pieces of bacon

That's it.

That's the list.

I use salt pork instead of bacon. I omit salt, add pepper and a little tabasco.

[formermav43 4606]

16 hours ago, RMac5 said:

Don’t stir em to often, makes them more creamy, I like the bean juice to be more clear.

Interesting. I have the exact opposite opinion.

[tx 3 putt 77396]

The tub of heb poco is a powerful / under rated ingredient 

[C-Man 27261]

21 hours ago, irishtexan said:

Smoke some beef cheeks ahead of time. Tastes like brisket. Done in 5 hours or less. Throw them in using one of the recipes above.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11820]

2 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

The tub of heb poco is a powerful / under rated ingredient 

Especially if you sauté it in the pork fat a little before you throw it in the pot.   A couple of my better pots of beans had pico in them.

[Lat22 4016]

On 10/17/2019 at 6:55 PM, HenryJames said:

This is all you need. And salt pork. 

Edited October 19, 2019 by Lat22

[drt 640]

16 hours ago, ShaggyBevo RIP said:

Simmer with Clamato. Adds both msg and some high fructose corn syrup. There is a big thread at Texags on using Clamato in making pintos.  https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/1394477/1#discussion

[jimmyjazz 46124]

20 hours ago, ShaggyBevo RIP said:

Simmer with Clamato. Adds both msg and some high fructose corn syrup. There is a big thread at Texags on using Clamato in making pintos. 

Why does this not surprise me?

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

If I go with beef cheeks, should I use beef broth or chicken broth in the simmer?  I'm afraid if I went full beef broth these would task more like beans au jus than pinto beans.

[RPM 26352]

Am I the only one that adds a can of beer? You guys are heathens.

[jimmyjazz 46124]

3 minutes ago, RPM said:

Am I the only one that adds a can of beer? You guys are heathens.

That would be borracho beans.  No, you are not the only one.

If you use a can of beer in your charro beans, you didn't make charro beans.

[hopkinsnhorns 533]

2 hours ago, RPM said:

Am I the only one that adds a can of beer? You guys are heathens.

The previous guy used to soak the beans overnight in Bud Light (sorry @Steel Shank).  Then they would rinse and boil in chicken broth then add a large tub of HEB pico and a couple cans of beer.  I thought they tasted like shit, and I think the Bud Light bath was to blame.  That and hot wilted bits of cilantro leaves left them with a off-putting, bitter taste.

[Errestaurants 2570]

On 10/18/2019 at 8:20 PM, ShaggyBevo RIP said:

Simmer with Clamato. Adds both msg and some high fructose corn syrup. There is a big thread at Texags on using Clamato in making pintos.  https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/1394477/1#discussion

be careful eating beans from Aggies, I heard they add a lil sheep jizz for seasoning

[RPM 26352]

28 minutes ago, hopkinsnhorns said:

The previous guy used to soak the beans overnight in Bud Light (sorry @Steel Shank).  Then they would rinse and boil in chicken broth then add a large tub of HEB pico and a couple cans of beer.  I thought they tasted like shit, and I think the Bud Light bath was to blame.  That and hot wilted bits of cilantro leaves left them with a off-putting, bitter taste.

I soak over night in water, but I add a can of beer to chicken stock to cook. #nocilantro

[elfenix 34332]

cilantro blows.  recipe calls for, say, 1/4 bunch.  you chop it up, somehow half of it ends up on the floor, in the living room, on the dog, etc.  then it starts to rot immediately, and if you don't finish whatever it is you put it in that day, it's got floating bits of slimy dark green cilantro leaf in it.  the rest of the bunch you stuck back in the bag in the fridge, and will find at the bottom of the drawer 3 weeks later, as a pool of brown sludge.  fuck that shit.

[Steel Shank 9430]

2 hours ago, hopkinsnhorns said:

The previous guy used to soak the beans overnight in Bud Light (sorry @Steel Shank).  Then they would rinse and boil in chicken broth then add a large tub of HEB pico and a couple cans of beer.  I thought they tasted like shit, and I think the Bud Light bath was to blame.  That and hot wilted bits of cilantro leaves left them with a off-putting, bitter taste.

My recipe calls for a case of Bud Light, but it goes in me, not the beans.

[Steel Shank 9430]

I also like to lay pipe while my beans are soaking.

[HenryJames 66169]

So you only soak them for 10 minutes?

[DallasHorn26 586]

So you only soak them for 10 minutes?

What am I supposed to do with the other 8 minutes?

[Steel Shank 9430]

32 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

So you only soak them for 10 minutes?

I wish.

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

I have a couple of members of my family (females) who prefer Bush’s candied beans to pinto beans. I started adding Ranch Style beans into the Bush’s. I’m up to a 50:50 ratio with no complaints, but at this rate, I may not live long enough to complete the mission. I may try Aaron Franklin’s recipe for myself and let them have their Bush’s.

Edited October 22, 2019 by ImissWallyPryor

[Lat22 4016]

18 hours ago, RPM said:

Am I the only one that adds a can of beer? You guys are heathens.

Depends on whether or not anybody has left a Miller Lite or other craft garbage in my fridge.

[HouTex 1891]

Our beloved maid growing up made the best pinto beans. Just salt and pepper and salt pork. They cooked two to three hours and were tender but not mushy. Adding the perfect amount of salt was key. She never measured anything but kept tasting them until it was just right.

[RollLeft 5045]

Imo, i'd leave out chili powder.  It's equivalent to liquid smoke in my world.  Might as well just plate ranch style beans.    

[Hank Scorpio 17730]

Soak the beans in bourbon overnight, preferably something barrel aged. Drain off the liquid and set aside the beans, then get some extra virgin olive oil searing hot in the pot and add the beans back in to get a nice sear on them (this will seal in the bean juices). Once the beans have seared add your shallot, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, tomato paste, and a handful of saffron. Cook that down for a couple of hours and then pour in a few liters of a nice, hoppy IPA. Let that come to a rolling boil for 6 or so hours and then let cool completely before serving.