How to Cook Garden Fresh Pinto Beans in an Unusual Way

While everyone knows about fresh green beans, most people probably do not know that the most flavorful green bean in the garden is the pinto. If you love garden fresh pinto beans and you want to cook them in an unusual way, try picking them before they mature, snap and string them, then cook them like you would cook any other green bean.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh green pintos
• 3 strips bacon
• 1/8 cup cooking oil
• Salt to taste
• Large stew pot

Instructions

1. Place the fresh green pinto pods into a large bowl or your sink. Add plenty of cool water and swish the fresh pintos around in it. Remove the pintos and place into a clean bowl. Rinse all of the dirt and grit from the first container and repeat the process until no grit remains in the bottom of the bowl or sink.

2. String the pintos. Gently snap off one end of the pinto and pull the string down the entire length of the green bean. Snap off the other end and repeat the process on the other side. Snap each pinto into two or three small pieces, depending on their length.

3. Bring two quarts of water to a boil in the stew pot. Add the pinto beans and bacon. Boil for about an hour, or until the pintos turn a dark green color and start to come apart. Add the cooking oil and salt to taste.

Tips & Warnings

• You might need to add a little water during cooking to prevent scorching.

• Boil the beans until the liquid is almost evaporated. This makes for a more flavorful green pinto snap.

• Half an onion (chopped) can be added to the pintos for added flavor.