Pinto Beans and Cornbread ❤️
🥣 Pinto beans with smoked meat
Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450 g) of dried pinto beans (or two cans, drained and rinsed).
- 6–8 cups of water or low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 smoked ham hock, smoked turkey leg or ~1 cup of diced smoked sausage or bacon
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon of chilli powder (optional).
- Salt to taste (add at the end!).
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon of oil or bacon drippings
Instructions:
Prepare the beans:
- Rinse the dried beans thoroughly and soak them in water overnight.
Shortcut: Quick-soak by boiling the beans in water for two minutes, then turning off the heat and leaving them to sit for one hour.
Cook the base:
- Heat oil or bacon drippings in a large pot over a medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
Simmer the beans:
- Add the soaked (or tinned) beans, smoked meat, bay leaf, pepper, paprika, chilli powder and enough water or stock to cover by 5 cm.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2–3 hours, until the beans are tender and the broth has thickened. Stir occasionally.
Season and finish:
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- Once the beans are soft, taste them and add salt if needed.
- Remove the bay leaf and any meat bones. Shred any remaining meat and return it to the pot.
🍞 Southern Cornbread Muffins
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cornmeal
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of sugar (optional for sweeter cornbread).
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of buttermilk (or 1 cup of milk + 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice).
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup melted butter or oil
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Grease or line a muffin tin.
- In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients: cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Stir just until combined — do not overmix.
- Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 15–18 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
🍽 Serving suggestion:
- Spoon hot pinto beans into a bowl and serve with a golden cornbread muffin. For a classic Southern touch, add a little hot sauce or a slice of raw onion.
Thank You AND Enjoy
