The Bean Book from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen
The Bean Book from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen
From Steven Sando, the founder of...
From £30.00 GBP
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Pinto beans but not as you know them: the organic exemplar of a legume stalwart. Certified Organic Pinto Beans harvested at Seneca Farm, upstate New York, USA. The Heirloom Bean Co sources these Phaseolus beans from Vermont Bean Crafters in New England, America. |
These peerless pintos carry the imprint of the place they’re grown: the small, mixed‑crop Seneca Farm run by the Martens family in upstate New York where long rotations, cool nights and patient drying give the beans a soft, tawny flesh and a rounded, cereal‑rich flavour that’s fuller and more rustic than your standard offering. Their skins yield early, the centres turn velvety, and the cooking liquid thickens into a warm, brown broth that feels almost like the beginning of a sauce. An absolute delight to cook with.
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Recipe Suggestions
These pintos are superb in vegetarian dishes that lean on depth rather than heat. A pot of pintos with slow‑cooked onions, celery root and a splash of cider vinegar becomes a winter staple, the broth turning silky as the vegetables soften. They’re excellent paired with roasted cauliflower, garlic and smoked paprika, where the beans’ mellow richness anchors the brassica’s sweetness. For something brighter, fold them into a stew of tomatoes, courgettes and oregano, letting the beans absorb the garden flavours. Or build a hearty bowl with pintos, roasted sweet peppers and spelt, the grain’s chew playing against the bean’s softness.
Cooking these beans
Check beans for debris, and rinse thoroughly. In a large pot, sauté aromatic vegetables (onions, garlic, celery, carrot, etc.) in olive oil. Add beans and enough water to cover by about 2 inches/5cm. Bring to a full boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, using a lid to help regulate the heat, and gently cook until done, 1 to 3 hours. Salt when the beans start to soften. A pre-soak of 2 to 6 hours will lessen the cooking time.
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Ingredients
Pinto Beans
Further info
Similar to: Cranberry, Flor de Mayo
Latin name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Country of origin: USA
Sold in resealable 453g (1lb) bags
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Typical values Per 100g Energy 1333kJ (316kcal) Fat 1.2g of which saturates 0.2g Carbohydrate 47g of which sugars 2.1g Fibre 16g Protein 21g Salt 0.03g
