What are pinto beans?
Pinto beans belong to a class of beans, referred to as “common beans,” alongside kidney, navy, and black beans. Pinto, which means painted or spotted, actually describes the bean’s appearance before cooking. Similar to the markings of a pinto horse, pinto beans have a mottled appearance from darker reddish brown spots on a lighter brownish beige background, thus appearing painted or spotted. Pinto beans and other common beans were first introduced to Europeans in the 15th century. When cooked, pinto beans loose their mottled appearance and take on a pinkish tinge. Pinto beans are commonly served alongside rice and are also mashed into refried beans, the common base filling of burritos. Pinto beans are the most widely consumed bean in the United States and because they are one of the most inexpensive forms of protein, are widely consumed throughout the word.
