Norma Jean's Beans
Learn to make Norma Jean's famous pinto beans from the legend herself, made with simple ingredients, rich tradition, and a top secret method.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 2 cups pinto beans raw
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 ounces ground salt pork
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 8 cups water initially
- 4 cups water as needed
Instructions
- Prepare the beans. Rinse the pinto beans thoroughly under cold water. Remove any debris or damaged beans.2 cups pinto beans
- Soak the beans. Place the rinsed beans in a large pot and cover with water. Let them soak overnight, or for at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse the beans before cooking.2 cups pinto beans
- Cook the beans. In a large pot, add the soaked beans, ground salt pork, diced onion, and the initial 8 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.2 ounces ground salt pork, 1 yellow onion, 8 cups water
- Season the beans. Once boiling, add black pepper, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and salt. Stir to combine.¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Simmer. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook for 2.5 to 3 hours. Stir every 5 -10 minutes to prevent the beans from burning on the edges and to help break some of the beans' skins / “Bumb the beans”. This will release starch and thicken the liquid.
- Add water as needed. Throughout the cooking process, add additional water, 1 cup at a time, if the beans begin to dry out. You may use up to 4 additional cups of water.4 cups water
- Check for doneness. The beans are done when they are tender and the liquid has thickened to your desired consistency.
- Serve. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot as a side dish or as a main course. Flavor will intensify if beans are cooked and chilled in a refrigerator for 1 - 4 days then heated when you want to serve. Add water as needed when re heating.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 443mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 323IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg