Organic pinto beans are very low in fat but rich in nutrients. They are a fantastic source of protein, so vegans, athletes, and bodybuilders should consider including these legumes into their diets. As organic pinto beans are rich in fiber. Their overall low calorie count means you can eat them even while following a weight management plan.
A low level of sodium can be considered another important benefit of pinto beans. A cup of cooked seeds contains only about 2 milligrams of this element. Organic pinto beans have a very low glycemic index.
Organic Pinto Beans: Nutrition Breakdown
A cup of cooked organic pinto beans (salted) packs a nutritional punch. Bear in mind that the traditional serving of this product is half a cup per meal. This amount will contain about 115 calories and about 8 grams of protein and fiber (each). The total amount of carbs in this serving is 21 gram, about half of that from starch. Cooked organic pinto beans contain only 0.3 gram of sugar and less than 0.6 gram of fat in ½ cup.
Essential vitamins and minerals you can get from this food include:
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Calcium
- Iron
- Folate
- Thiamin
- Vitamin B6
Organic pinto beans contain trace amounts of many other nutrients, so eating them is sure to boost a healthy diet.
Organic Dried Pinto Beans: How to Cook Organic dried pinto beans are easy to cook. Like the majority of legumes, they require pre-soaking overnight. Water removes the elements that make the seed hard to digest.
However, if you are pressed for time, you can use several speed-cooking tips.
- Cook your organic pinto beans (dry) in a pressure cooker.
In this case, you may not pre-soak them at all. Cook at a high pressure setting for 40 minutes and then let them ‘brew’ in an unopened pressure cooker for about half an hour. - Speed-soak organic dried pinto beans by bringing them to a boil and removing a covered pan from heat. Cover it with a towel or just leave as is for an hour (or as much time as you have). Then, cook the beans following the recipe.
The simplest way to cook organic pinto beans is to bring pre-soaked and rinsed seeds to a boil and let simmer for 1-3 hours. Judge their texture to determine when to drain your beans.
Benefits of Organic Sprouted Pinto Beans When you buy organic pinto beans dry, you can sprout them to maximize the food’s nutritional benefits. The trick is that when sprouted, all seeds get a boost of antioxidants and nutrients. This happens because enzymes activate the elements ‘archived’ within the seed. The legume is supposed to use it in order to grow into a mature pinto beans plant.
Sprouting triggers the release of these extra nutrients, but you need to consume your boosted food before it turns green. The plant itself won’t be very beneficial to you, so organic pinto beans aren’t the best choice for growing microgreens.
You can even make your own organic sprouted pinto beans flour. For this, you’ll have to sprout the seeds, dry them thoroughly, and grind into a fine meal. The product is gluten-free and more nutritious than regular bean flour.
How to Sprout Organic Pinto Beans Sprouting organic pinto beans is easier than growing microgreens and takes very little time. Note that ½ cup of dried legumes should yield about a cup of sprouts. The process goes like this:
- Rinse ½ cup organic pinto beans (dry). And soak in 1 ½ cups of water (70F) for 12 hours or overnight.
- Drain the water, rinse, and drain again.
- Put beans into the sprouter or an upturned glass jar covered with a piece of muslin cloth. Provide free airflow.
- Put your sprouter somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
- Rinse and drain about every 8-12 hours and your sprouts will be ready for eating in 2-4 days.
Note that you can use the water you originally soak your beans in for cooking as it absorbs some nutrients from the seeds.