Refried Beans

Refried Beans are one of my favorite Mexican food side dishes. My favorite ways to eat refried beans are with homemade tortilla chips or in a bean and cheese burrito.

I love refried beans for their rich, smooth creamy texture and its so much more flavorful than just regular beans. There’s nothing like biting into an ooey gooey bean and cheese burrito or enjoying it as a side to my favorite Mexican dishes. Refried beans are super versatile! They are super easy to make and you can season it up and cook it however you like and it will be super tasty. I like my refried beans smooth, but with little chunks of beans for extra texture.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy refried beans?

Ingredients:
2 pounds whole pinto beans with liquid
1/2 white onion, finely minced
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
1 teaspoon cumin

Steps:

Make Refried Beans – Sauté diced onions in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onions until translucent for about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and mix. Add pinto beans with liquid to the skillet and mash the beans with a potato masher to your liking. Season the beans with chili powder, cumin, and salt and mix well. Reduce the liquid down to the desired consistency.

Tips:

• Can be made with black beans or Peruvian beans.
• Control how chunky or smooth you want the refried beans during the mashing process.
• If the mixture is too thick, add extra water to reach your desired consistency.
• If the mixture is too loose, simmer until it reduces to your desired consistency
• Add jalapenos to add extra spicy kick.
• Substitute lard for vegetable shortening