Refried Beans

Refried Pinto beans flavored up with onion, garlic, cumin, and oregano.

I'd never made Refried Beans before, so I decided to use the Northern Mexican and American Tex-Mex standard of pinto beans, although other parts of Mexico often use red or black beans. Somewhat of a misnamed food, these beans are never actually fried. However, these mashed beans are nonetheless delicious and a great accompaniment to any Mexican inspired meal. These beans are frequently served as the main meal along with smaller strongly flavored sides in Mexico, whereas in the United States, Refried Beans are generally served on the side. They're also often included in foods like burritos, 7 layer dips, and sometimes, even nachos. Either way, give these homemade Refried Beans a try and see what you think!

What are some of your favorite Mexican foods?

Refried Beans

by CJ Huang

Refried Pinto beans flavored up with onion, garlic, cumin, and oregano.

Prep time: 5 minutes + optional soaking time
Cook time: 90 minutes
Total time: 95 minutes
Yield: 8 servings

Materials:

Mass	Weight	Volume	Number	Material	Notes
		1 cup		dried pinto beans, soaked
			1	onion, diced
		1 tablespoon		garlic, minced
		1 tablespoon		red chili pepper
		1/2 teaspoon		cumin
		1/2 teaspoon		oregano
				bacon grease	or other lipid/oil

Methods:

1. Gather all materials.
2. Cover beans with water and bring to a boil. Continue cooking until beans soft.
3. Meanwhile, cook onions in bacon grease (or other oil) until translucent.
4. Add in remaining materials and cook until fragrant.
5. Mix in with beans, stirring and mashing until desired texture achieved.