Ingredients:
- 1 pound dried pinto beans (rinse and sort to remove any debris)
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (ensure it’s low-carb)
- 1/2 pound bacon, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper (red or green), diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 bay leaf
- Optional: 1 cup chopped tomatoes or 1 tablespoon tomato paste for added flavor
Free Keto Meal Plan : KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Instructions:
- Prepare Beans: If you have time, soak the beans in water overnight to reduce cooking time and improve texture. Drain and rinse before cooking. If you’re short on time, you can skip the soaking step, but you might need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Sauté: Set your Instant Pot to the ‘Sauté’ function. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon pieces and set them aside. Leave a small amount of bacon fat in the pot.
- Cook Aromatics: In the remaining bacon fat, add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
- Add Spices: Stir in the ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. Cook for another minute to allow the spices to bloom.
- Add Beans and Broth: Add the rinsed pinto beans to the pot. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. If using, stir in the chopped tomatoes or tomato paste. Add the bay leaf.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to ‘Sealing’. Set the Instant Pot to ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ on high pressure for 35 minutes. If you skipped soaking the beans, you might need to increase the time to 40 minutes.
- Natural Release: Once the cooking time is up, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for about 10 minutes, then carefully switch the valve to ‘Venting’ to release any remaining pressure.
- Final Touches: Open the lid and stir the beans. If the beans are too soupy for your preference, you can set the Instant Pot to ‘Sauté’ mode and simmer for a few minutes to reduce the liquid. Stir the cooked bacon back into the beans.
- Serve: Adjust seasoning to taste if needed. Enjoy your beans as a side dish, or as part of a larger keto meal.
This recipe should fit well within a keto diet, provided you’re mindful of portion sizes and the carb count of your broth. Enjoy your delicious and hearty beans!
Free Keto Meal Plan : KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS STEP BY STEP GUIDE
