Pinto beans, the nutrition-rich legumes, bring a delightful creaminess to many dishes, ranging from salsas to soups. Enjoyed in many Italian dishes for their light texture and slightly nutty flavor, they play a starring role in creating a hearty, healthy diet. Yet, this versatile bean holds many names around the globe, reflecting its wide influence in different culinary traditions. What do pinto beans taste like? Pinto beans have a mild, earthy flavor with hints of sweetness. From being a staple in the popular Mexican dish 'Frijoles charros' to their use as a delicious alternative in soups and casseroles, pinto beans stand out.
As substitutes for pinto beans or pinto bean substitutes in recipes, people turn to a variety of nutritious legumes to feature in their dishes, providing a similar texture and taste. Whether you're in search of a pinto bean alternative or are simply curious about the various names of this humble legume, this guide will take you through a fascinating culinary journey. Get ready to uncover the numerous aliases of the pinto bean, and add a dash of international flavor to your culinary vocabulary.
Speckled Beans
Feijao Catarino
Red kidney beans – taste and flavor are similar to that of pinto beans and are found in South Asia. It can be easily substituted without any noticeable difference in taste.
Cranberry beans – originated as the ‘Cargamanto bean’ in Columbia and are commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine. Similar in appearance to pinto beans, these are larger and have big maroon specks on them, much like the Great Northern beans.
Field Bean
Othello- boasts of a unique dark red color, the Othello pinto bean variety is often praised for its disease resistance and high yield output.
Iyabo, Meaning: mother has returned Origin: African, Yoruba ~ View Detail
Lillemor, Meaning: little mother Origin: Scandinavia ~ View Detail
Climbing Bean
Yetunde, Meaning: mother returned Origin: Yoruba
Madrona, Meaning: mother Origin: Spanish
Dwarf Bean
Haricot Pinto
Bush Bean
Chitro Rajma
Chitra Razma
Dry Bean
Amma, Meaning: mother, or born on a Saturday Origin: Tamil, Akan
Black beans – are sweeter compared to dry pinto beans and are the best substitute for both obese and athletic individuals because of their low carbohydrate content.
Demeter, Meaning: earth mother Origin: Greek
Alubia pinta alavesa- is also known as Alavese pinto bean. Is a dark red variety of the pinto bean that originated in Anana, a town and municipality located in the province of Alava, in the Basque country of northern Spain.
Haricots De Bourbon
Astarte, Meaning: mother goddess Origin: Phonecian
Peruano beans – are also known as Mexican yellow beans, these are native to Peru. It’s a common ingredient in Mexican cuisine alongside pinto beans.
Maroon-speckled bean
Amba, Meaning: mother Origin: Sanskrit
Lima Beans- are also known as Peru beans, are one of the earliest cultivated beans. They are commonly found in recipes such as creamed lima beans and succotash.
Sierra- is known for its early maturing and wide adaptability, which makes it one of the highest-yielding pinto beans.
Jarita, Meaning: mother or legendary bird Origin: Hindi-Sanskrit
Feijoa Carioca
Roman Beans
Moa, Meaning: mother Origin: Swedish
Chitri-Wale Rajma
Navy beans – are a type of white bean that originated on Northern Europe's coasts and is smaller than most white beans. They are also known as ‘haricot beans’ in some parts of the world. These beans are used for the popular Boston baked beans.
Adzuki beans- are little red beans that are well-used in Asian cuisines.
Mottled beans
Emese, Meaning: mother Origin: Hungarian
Chickpeas – are also known as garbanzo beans. These have low fat and are high in fiber and protein content. They have a nuttier flavor than pinto beans but are equally nutritious.
Cranberry Beans
Rio Zape– is common in Brazil and other South American countries.
Haricots Pales
Broad or fava beans – are grown initially as a cover crop to protect soil health. These are very common in Asian, Latin American, North African, Southern European, and Northern European cuisines.
Alubia pinta
Lentils– are good in dishes where the beans are mashed or pureed, like refried beans or dips. They are great for the digestive system because of their high potassium and fiber content.
