Tired of your usual afternoon snacks? Try adding pork and beans! This incredibly versatile pantry staple can turn boring snacks into something more interesting. It adds another layer of flavor that can give your dish a delicious twist. Plus, it also serves as binder, thickener, and tomato sauce for some dishes.
Make sure you use a quality brand like Hunt’s Pork and Beans. Hunt’s Pork and Beans is made from high-quality white beans and real pork bits, covered in a rich, thick, and sweet tomato sauce. For the health-conscious, it is a great source of fiber that can aid indigestion.
Here are a couple of delicious snacks with a pork and bean twist:
Corn and Bean Fritters
Prep time: 30 minutes
Makes 12 fritters
1 pouch (230 grams) Hunt’s Pork and Beans, drained
1 can sweet corn kernels, drained
1 medium red onion, peeled, finely chopped
1 large green bell pepper, seeded, chopped small
2 cloves garlic, peeled, finely chopped
1 large egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons oil, for frying
Ketchup, to serve
Mayonnaise, to serve
1 Drain the sauce of Hunt’s Pork and Beans. Set aside.
2 In a large bowl, combine drained Hunt’s Pork and Beans, corn, onion, bell pepper, garlic, egg, flour, salt, and ground black pepper. Add 1 tablespoon pork and beans sauce to the mixture for added color.
3 Heat a non-stick frying pan and add enough oil to lightly cover the bottom.
4 Make sure the pan is hot before adding a heaping tablespoon of the bean mixture into the hot oil, flattening it into a thin layer. Cook until the underside is firm. Flip, and brown again until cooked through.
5 Drain on a rack over paper towels. Serve with ketchup and mayonnaise on the side.
PRO TIP: You can cook a small portion to test for seasoning, and adjust as necessary with more salt and pepper so you won’t end up with a bland or salty batch.
Pork and Bean Hummus
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes 3 servings
1 pack (230 grams each) Hunt’s Pork and Beans
2 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed
2 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tomatoes, cored, chopped small
1 tablespoon parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon red onion, peeled, finely chopped
6 large flour tortillas, cut into wedges
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 In a food processor, puree Hunt’s Pork and Beans with garlic.
2 Add ketchup and cumin. Process again. Taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and ground black pepper. Spoon out onto a shallow bowl. Using the back of a spoon, create a swirl in the puree. Drizzle olive oil into it. Set aside.
3 In a small bowl, toss tomatoes, onion, and parsley together. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Top hummus with salsa. Serve with tortillas.
Pork and Beans Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes 3 Sandwiches
1 can (390 grams) Hunt’s Pork and Beans
6 slices bread
3 slices cheddar cheese
3 slices mozzarella cheese
1 Drain Hunt’s Pork and Beans.
2 Mash drained beans, and then set aside.
3 Toast slices of bread over medium-heat pan.
4 Assemble the sandwich by putting a slice of mozzarella and cheddar and a layer of mashed beans between 2 slices of toasted bread.
PRO TIP: Slather some butter for a tastier toasted bread. What to do with leftover Hunt’s Pork and Beans sauce? Create a simple tomato soup!
