Guest Recipe: Pinto Bean Taco (ve)

Name: Guest Recipe: Pinto Bean Taco (ve)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 kg tinned pinto beans (including liquid (2 1/2 tins)); 130 g onion (finely chopped (1 onion)); ½ tsp garlic granules; ¼ tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp tomato puree; ½ tsp mild chilli powder; 2 tsp cumin powder; 2 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp salt; 10 taco shells; 100 g grated plant-based cheese; 350 g tomatoes (sliced (3 tomatoes)); 200 g lettuce leaves (shredded); fresh coriander leaves to garnish

A plated meal with brown rice, a taco filled with beans and topped with cilantro, sliced tomatoes, cucumber, and roasted carrot sticks on a white plate. — Balanced – Pinto Bean Tacos

We're sharing this recipe from the school food programme at Balanced (USA) to celebrate International School Meals Day 2026. This is a delicious and simple meal that can be used on school menus or enjoyed at home. Please note this recipe has been adapted to meet School Food Standards in the UK and makes 10 primary school portions.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Servings: 10

1 kg

tinned pinto beans including liquid (2 1/2 tins)
130 g

onion finely chopped (1 onion)
½ tsp

garlic granules
¼ tsp

black pepper
1 tbsp

tomato puree
½ tsp

mild chilli powder
2 tsp

cumin powder
2 tsp

smoked paprika
1 tsp

onion powder
1 tsp

salt
10

taco shells

Additional Toppings:

100 g

grated plant-based cheese
350 g

tomatoes sliced (3 tomatoes)
200 g

lettuce leaves shredded
fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Instructions

Put the tinned pinto beans and their liquid into a saucepan. Add the diced onion, garlic granules, black pepper, tomato puree, mild chilli powder, cumin powder, smoked paprika, onion powder and salt.
Mix well and bring to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes. Then blitz the beans with a stick blender until they are nice and smooth.
Cook for 30 minutes stirring periodically. The beans will thicken as they cook.
Fill your taco shell with a spoonful of the beans and add any additional toppings. We served our with brown rice and sweet potato wedges.

Notes

Fibre: 7.7g
Protein: 11g
Saturated fat: 3.1g
Other Nutrition Facts: contains zinc, iron and vitamin B12
Allergens: may contain gluten

C02 Emissions: Low, 0.40kg per serving

Please note that you can use black beans if you are unable to source pinto beans.