Pinto Beans With Sage Recipes

THE SECRET TO PERFECT OLD FASHIONED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the bag of beans well and remove any that look like they are past their prime. If unsure - chuck it.
• Pour the beans into a large bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of water and allow to soak overnight. Alternately, you can boil the beans at a steady boil for about 10 minutes before you begin to cook them. Whether you soak or parboil, pour the water off from this step.
• In a six quart stock pot on medium heat, heat the olive oil and saute the onion and garlic until they smell really good and the pieces become translucent.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add the beans, bacon, salt, chicken broth concentrate, one bay leaf and sugar and enough cool clean water to cover the beans by 2 inches. (If you are sensitive to salt, then you can always decrease the amount)
• Heat the beans on medium until they come to a light boil then reduce the heat to low.
• Stir the beans occasionally and don't let them get to a strong boil. Cook until done. I tell doneness by tasting - you could also spoon some out and smash it in your fingers. If it is smashy- through and through - they are done.

VEGAN PINTO BEAN BREAKFAST SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the onions, mushrooms and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the onions and mushrooms are soft and thick almost like a paste, about 6 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce and remove from the heat. Let cool.
• Put the drained beans, chickpea flour, onion-mushroom mixture and 1 tablespoon oil in a food processor and pulse until the beans are finely chopped and hold together when squeezed, but not a smooth paste. Add the sage, thyme, maple syrup, rosemary, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and pulse until combined.
• Divide the bean mixture into 12 even portions. Roll each out into a cylinder about 4 inches long, then roll up tightly in plastic wrap and twist the ends to secure.
• Set up a steamer and arrange the rolled up sausages in it (you may have to do this in batches). Heat the steamer over medium heat and once steaming, cover and steam until the sausages have plumped up, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover and refrigerate the steamed sausages until firm, about 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Unwrap the sausages and heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and cook, turning them as needed, until browned and crisp all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until heated all the way through, about 5 minutes.