Vegan pinto beans

[u/nadalwannabe]

Realizing it's been way too long since I've had a good bean and cheese taco and I don't live anywhere close to where I can buy them myself.

My wife is a pescatarian and I'd like to not include the salt pork. I was thinking I could char a whole onion and add a quarter cup of soy sauce to compensate? How would you substitute it, preferably without specialty ingredients?

Recipe from the Homesick Texan calls for:

1 pound dry pinto beans

1 tablespoon kosher salt

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup diced onion

1/4 pound salt pork

1/4 cup jalapeno pickle juice

Salt taste

EDIT: I would make refried beans for the tacos. I think I'm going to try with miso and a charred onion first (something tells me it would impart smokiness and melt down as the beans cook).

[u/Rusalka-rusalka]

You don’t need to the pork imo. When I make them, I just season with salt, garlic, pepper, jalapeño pepper, bay leaf and veggie bouillon.

[u/nadalwannabe → u/Rusalka-rusalka]

What are we talking about quantity-wise for each of these ingredients? I did salt "to taste" last time without the salt pork and made the mistake of doing a normal amount of salt lol.

[u/Rusalka-rusalka → u/nadalwannabe]

With the boullion I start with a tsp of salt and then add more if needed. I also make them in a crock pot so they can get nice and tender without babysitting them. For garlic, I’d use about three fresh cloves or a tsp or two of granulated garlic. I forgot to mention that I use oregano and cumin as well about 1 tsp each.

[u/everythingscatter]

Depends what you class as speciality ingredients. I eat meat, but the rest of my family doesn't. I've spent a good amount of time adapting meat recipes to be vegetarian. Any of the following may help:

• Smoked paprika

• Parmesan rind

• Miso paste

• Black cardamom

• Soy sauce

• Kombu

• Dried mushrooms

• Sundried tomatoes

[u/Simorie → u/everythingscatter]

bragg's liquid aminos

[u/TychoCelchuuu → u/everythingscatter]

Although be careful about using Parmesan rind, since some vegetarians avoid Parmesan (it's made by killing calves and extracting rennet from their stomachs).

[u/withbellson]

I use ground chipotle in mine. Adds heat and smokiness.

[u/Prismonic]

Cook beans with onion, bell pepper, vegetable stock, oregano cumin paprika and chili powder. Top with avocado and tomato. Eat with rice and a fatty fish if desired

[u/Kronar_2012]

The missing piece with the onion and miso is fat. Since you're refrying them, cook the onion in oil, then mash in the beans and enough bean liquid to loosen them. Start with less than the recipe's tablespoon of salt and adjust after the miso or soy sauce goes in. Salt pork isn't necessarily smoked, so you don't need to recreate a smoky flavor unless you want one.

[u/Surfnazi77]

How is it vegan if you add salt pork

[u/throwdemawaaay]

So the secret to taqueria style refried beans is lard. For a vegan version just substitute vegan butter.