Refried Beans
User Reviews
4.7
Refried Beans
Description
The Refried Beans recipe starts with dried pinto beans soaked and simmered with aromatic ingredients like yellow onion, garlic, bay leaf, and Mexican oregano until thoroughly tender. After straining, the beans are mashed with sautéed diced onion, garlic, and jalapeño cooked in olive oil or lard to add richness and depth. The gradual cooking softens the beans to a creamy consistency, while the jalapeño adds a subtle heat and brightness. The final seasoning balances saltiness and herbal notes from the oregano.
The texture is smooth but retains a bit of body from mashed beans, making it versatile for use as a side dish, taco filling, or dip. The combination of slow simmering and sautéed aromatics yields a flavorful bean base with a silky mouthfeel. The recipe allows adjustment of seasoning after blending, letting the cook tailor the flavor.
Refried Beans are convenient to prepare in batches and can be reheated with added water or broth to maintain moisture. Substitutions like canned beans or Instant Pot cooking for faster preparation are included, with instructions for each approach to ensure softness and flavor retention.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pinto beans dried
- 1 yellow onion halved, divided
- 5 cloves garlic divided
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon oregano divided, dried Mexican
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt divided, plus more to taste
- water as needed
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or lard
- 1 jalapeno pepper
Instructions
- Rinse and clean the beans by picking out and discarding any that are shriveled or split as well as any small rocks that may have made their way into the batch.
- In a large pot, combine the beans, ½ yellow onion, 2 cloves smashed garlic, 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, and enough water to completely cover the ingredients plus an additional 3 inches.
- Bring the beans to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours, until soft and tender. Add more water as needed if it begins to dry out.
- While the beans are cooking, finely dice the remaining ½ yellow onion, 3 cloves of garlic, and the jalapeño. Set aside.
- When the beans are finished cooking, place a large bowl underneath a strainer or colander and carefully pour the beans and the cooking liquid into the strainer. Discard the bay leaf.
- Heat the oil in the same large pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, garlic, jalapeño, and the remaining ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano and 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften.
- Add in the cooked pinto beans and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add in ¾ cup of the reserved cooking liquid from the beans and stir to combine.
- Mash the beans using a potato masher for a chunky texture, or puree them using an immersion blender or regular blender for a smoother texture. You may need to add more of the reserved cooking liquid if they’re still too dry.
- Taste and season with more salt, if necessary.
Notes
- Use canned beans as a time-saving alternative, reserving the liquid for mashing to maintain flavor and texture.
- For Instant Pot cooking, pressure cook dried beans with aromatics and seasonings for 50 minutes, then release pressure naturally to achieve tender beans.
- When reheating cooked beans, add a tablespoon of water or broth to keep them moist and prevent dryness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 175 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 175kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 335mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 220mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 50IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 14.9mg | 17% |
| Calcium | 60mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2.5mg | 14% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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