16 Best Substitutes for Pinto Beans

A pinto bean substitute will create many changes. You will not be stressed with finding a backup ingredient when pinto beans are unavailable. Moreover, you can enjoy dishes with various flavors and diversify the elements when cooking.

This article will make you crazy with 16 fantastic replacements for pinto beans. It will not take much time to find pinto beans substitute for each recipe. To have the right decision, you need to focus all your mind on reading this post.

Brief About Pinto Beans

Pinto beans are a type of bean that belongs to the legume family. Pinto beans are neither too big nor too small. You will often see pinto beans with a brown color. And sometimes, you will come across pinto beans with a pink hue.

Nowadays, pinto beans are used all over the world. However, they still appear commonly in the cuisines of Southwestern American, Northern Mexico, North, Central, and South America ⁽¹⁾. Pinto beans will provide fiber and protein for your body.

Pinto beans are a suitable ingredient to incorporate in many dishes. They will offer an attractive sweet, nutty, and creamy flavor. In addition, you will feel their earthy taste in the dishes that contain pinto beans.

The soft and smooth texture of pinto beans makes a beautiful addition to broths, refried, and mashed recipes. They also turn out excellent as fillings for burritos, tostadas, and tacos. Dishes, such as salads, meat, and tortilla, are also incredible with pinto beans.

Take a look at the simple way to make a dish with pinto beans.

Make A Backup Plan For Pinto Beans With 16 Incredible Alternatives

Get in the kitchen with 16 fantastic alternatives to pinto beans. Show your friends and family your brilliant creativity in cooking with different ingredients as well as providing wonderful foods to treat them.

1. Red Beans (Adzuki Beans) – An Eye-Catching Substitute

If you need an alternative to bring sweetness to the dish, you can use red beans. They are an ingredient commonly used in Asian and Mexican cuisine. They are small in size and have an eye-catching light red color that will bring an appealing color to the dish.

The characteristic sweetness and nutty taste of red beans will make you fall in love. In addition, red beans have a soft texture resembling pinto beans. This flavor and texture are perfect for pairing with vegetables, sausages, meat and adding to salads and stews.

Red beans are also an essential ingredient in Chinese and Japanese desserts, such as mooncakes and mochi. The red bean curry tastes excellent. Red beans need about 2 to 4 days to become red bean sprouts.

2. Black Beans – Common Alternative To Pinto Beans

Black beans are a perfect substitute in every way for pinto beans. They will give the same flavor, texture, and size to the dish as pinto beans. Black beans are a convenient substitute because they appear in so many places.

You can easily find black beans in Central and South American dishes. Black beans are small in size and glossy black, and you will also notice a white spot on each black bean. Its sweet taste and soft texture will be an excellent complement to your dish.

You can use black beans in many ways. You can cook soups or stews with black beans. In Mexico, black beans often appear in tacos, huevos rancheros, and burritos. When you use dry black beans, you have to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

3. White Beans (Great Northern Beans)- Mild Taste Replacement

One type of bean used worldwide is white beans. France is a country with many famous dishes with white beans. Its neutral flavor is suitable in many dishes instead of pinto beans.

The delicate, sweet, and mild taste of white beans will create impressive points for recipes. You will find the mild flavor of white beans in salads, mashed dishes, soups, stews, casseroles, vegetables, and meat plates.

Their smooth texture and bright colors are also a great plus. There are different types of white beans, such as lima beans and navy beans.

Learn the fantastic recipes with white beans to make immediately.

4. Cranberry Beans (Borlotti Beans) – Simple Substitute For Pinto Beans

People in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Portugal love to use cranberry beans in their dishes. The appearance of cranberry beans is pretty similar to pinto beans with pink color, but their size is larger, and the taste is also different.

Unlike the earthy flavor of pinto beans, Borlotti beans offer attractive, subtle, and sweet flavors. You can combine cranberry beans in various dishes, such as soups, salads, stews, and savory dishes.

Cranberry beans will add many minerals to your body. Your digestive system will work better. Your muscles will grow faster with cranberry beans. They also help you maintain a stable blood sugar level.

5. Navy Beans – One Of The Smallest Beans

The name Navy beans began to be known in the US in the 19th century. This is an alternative that has a texture and tastes quite similar to pinto beans. So you do not have to worry about the taste of the dish not being as satisfactory as you would like.

The oval and flat shape of navy beans resembles pinto beans. You will feel the creaminess and mild flavor of navy beans. You will love the softness of navy beans in the cooked dishes. Their white color is a great accent.

Thanks to navy beans, the flavor of soups, sauces, purees, and vegetables will become stronger. It is easier to cook if you soak the beans for at least 3 hours in the water. Cook them for about 20 to 30 minutes for a better result.

6. Soybeans – Make Milk With Soybeans

Soybeans with an oval shape and milk color are popularly grown in East Asia. China is famous for its soy-based dishes. Soybeans make an excellent substitute for pinto beans in a variety of recipes.

Soy foods are usually mildly sweet and rich. Soybeans are a well-known ingredient in the cuisines of East Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, and China. Foods like Doenjang paste, Natto, and several Japanese dishes all contain soy.

You will be immersed in the sweet taste and attractive aroma of soy milk. Soybeans are also used to make vegetarian dishes. In addition, soybeans bring many nutrients. You should soak soybeans for about 3 hours to make cooking easier.

It is easy to create delicious soy milk with only 2 ingredients.

7. Chickpeas – Protect Your Health With Chickpeas

If you cannot find the ingredients listed above, consider chickpeas as your savior. They will replace pinto beans to make wonderful dishes. Based on color, chickpeas are divided into two types, Kabuli and Desi.

Nowadays, you can easily find chickpeas at stores. Chickpeas will bring a nutty and rich flavor to soups and salads. Middle Eastern cuisines also often use chickpeas to enhance the flavor.

Like other beans, chickpeas are an incredible source of vitamins, fiber, and minerals for your body. Chickpeas help prevent cancer and diabetes. You should also soak the peas before cooking.

8. Kidney Beans – Different Texture Substitute

If you do not care about the texture of the dish, you can choose kidney beans to replace pinto beans despite the difference in texture between them. Kidney beans have a thicker peel and firmer texture than pinto beans.

The dish will be supplemented with a deep red color with kidney beans. They will bring rich and attractive taste to recipes. They are a favorite ingredient of Mexicans when appearing in many Mexican dishes.

You can add kidney beans in curries, casseroles, and enchiladas. It is good to puree kidney beans for making dips or fillings. This can help maximize the flavor of kidney beans. They taste better when used in cooked dishes.

9. Cowpeas (Black-Eye Peas) – Unique Appearance Replacement

Another excellent alternative to pinto beans is black-eyed peas. They are also known as cowpeas. Their color is pretty similar to the eye color with white and black. They will give a strange color to the plates.

The flavor of cowpeas is pretty intense, and a salty taste will wake you up. In India and the Southern United States, cowpeas are pretty popular in stews, soups, salads, and dips. I was impressed with the taste of cowpeas in these foods.

If you are a vegetarian, cowpeas will be a perfect companion for you. Your body will replenish fiber, calories, and protein after consuming black-eyed peas.

10. Anasazi Beans – The Age-Old Replacement

Anasazi beans are an age-old component of Mexican cuisine. This bean was first grown by people of the Anasazi tribe. People also know them by the name Appaloosa beans. They often have white spots on the surface of the skin.

The pink color will appear on dishes cooked with Anasazi beans. The texture of the plate will become thicker when Anasazi beans are present. Anasazi beans give you the opportunity to enjoy great and attractive flavors.

Latin, Mexican, and Southwestern recipes often contain Anasazi beans. They make a good substitute for pinto beans in chilis, stews, and refried dishes.

11. Cannellini Beans – Popular Ingredient Of Italian Cuisine

Are you tired of looking for an alternative to pinto beans in your upcoming party dishes? Let cannellini beans dispel this fatigue for you. Thanks to cannellini beans, you can continue cooking even though there are no pinto beans in the house.

The famous Italian bean has the shape of kidney beans and the color of navy beans. Dishes, such as pasta, casserole, bean tartine, and bruschetta, go well with the creamy and nutty taste and soft texture of cannellini beans.

Your health will be protected with cannellini beans, thanks to their nutritional properties. Cannellini beans help reduce blood sugar, enhance skin and heart health. Before cooking, let’s soak cannellini beans in water for 5 hours.

Go to the kitchen and make fascinating pasta soup with cannellini beans.

12. Black Turtle Beans – Popular In Latin American And Caribbean

Another excellent replacement for pinto beans is black turtle beans. The mild, sweet, salty, and earthy taste of black turtle beans will make you forget the nostalgia for pinto beans. Dishes with black turtle beans will have a soft texture.

When enjoying Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, you will easily find flavors of black turtle beans. They are commonly used in soups, stews, enchiladas, burritos, and savory side dishes.

When using black turtle beans as a substitute for pinto beans, it will take longer to cook. However, you will be rewarded with their excellent taste.

13. Pigeon Peas – A Member Of Fabaceae Family

Pigeon peas are an alternative in the Fabaceae family ⁽²⁾. This nut is famous in Asia and Africa. These are tiny beans that are used a lot, thanks to their good nutritional profile. Pigeon peas come in different varieties with different colors.

Pigeon peas will be a perfect replacement for pinto beans in many different recipes. The highlight of these peas is their nutritional components. Not only are they widely used in cuisine, but they are also valuable medicine.

These are outstanding materials for people with diseases, such as blood pressure and heart disease. Pigeon peas are sold at the supermarkets in whole and split forms.

14. Lentils – Diversify The Flavor With Lentils

Asia and North Africa are the two cuisines that use lentils the most. This alternative is classified into various categories based on color. Each type of lentil will have a different taste. You will have many options with lentils.

Lentils with brown color will bring earth flavor to your recipe. You will retain the shape and texture of brown lentils after cooking. When you use red lentils, the dish will taste sweet and nutty.

Lentils will provide your body with proteins and energy. They also protect and improve your health. To enhance the flavor, you should combine them with olive oil.

Treat your loved ones with 3 delicious and simple recipes with lentils.

15. Lima Beans – A Substitute Natives In Central America

One bean that I quite like is lima beans. They are a type of nut that resembles a kidney bean shape and was first found in Central America. You will love the flavor of dishes when you use them as an alternative to pinto beans.

Recipes containing lima beans will have a rich and distinctive buttery flavor. Their texture is also extraordinary with smoothness. You should use lima beans in soups, casserole, side dishes, and succotash.

If you want to load minerals, fiber, and vitamins for your body, you cannot ignore lima beans. To save cooking time, you should soak the lima beans for about 5 hours in water before using them.

16. Urad Beans (Vigna Mungo) – Frequently Appear In Indian Cuisine.

Indian and South Asian cuisines are often flavored with urad beans. This is a nut that belongs to the legume family. They are pretty small in size and are usually black in color. Instead of using pinto beans, you can use urad beans.

The mild flavor of urad beans can be the perfect accompaniment to many dishes. Popular dishes with urad beans like dal, dosa batter, and idil. These are all typical and famous dishes of India.

Your heart health will be improved by eating urad beans. Moreover, this bean is beneficial for preventing cancer, diabetes, and diseases related to blood sugar. Allow the beans to soak for about 6 to 8 hours to cook faster.

FAQs

You need to spend time reading the answers to the questions below to get more information about this topic and consolidate your knowledge. Do not miss any fantastic questions!

A Few Final Essential Things

In this life, you either need to change or are forced to change. In culinary too, you need to diversify the ingredients to make the menu richer and know other options if you cannot find a particular component.

These alternatives to pinto beans will save you the pain of refreshing your menu and improvising when you cannot find pinto beans. Like and share the article, as well as add missing ideas below. Thanks for reading!

References

1. Pinto bean – Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 15 October, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinto_bean
2. Pigeon pea – Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 15 October, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_pea
3. Beans may help control blood sugar in people with diabetes. (2013, January 1). https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/beans-may-help-control-blood-sugar-in-people-with-diabetes