Healthier Refried Beans Recipes

EASY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained beans and water. Stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Use a potato masher or the back of a fork to mash up about at least half of the beans, until you reach your desired consistency. Continue to cook the beans, uncovered, stirring often, for 3 more minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste, and add more salt and lime juice if necessary. If the beans seem dry, add a very small splash of water and stir to combine. Cover until you're ready to serve.

REFRIED BEANS (BETTER THAN STORE-BOUGHT)

Steps:

• There is no need to soak the beans for this recipe. Rinse the dried beans then add to a large pot. Add the onion half, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs. Cover with at least 3 inches of water. Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the beans are extremely tender (almost silky inside), 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If during cooking the beans look dry, add a splash more water.
• Remove the onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs, and then discard them. Season the beans and liquid with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and go from there based on your tastes.
• Drain the beans, but do not discard the cooking liquid. We will use some of the liquid for making the refried beans. You will need about 3 cups of the beans to make refried beans. If you have more than 3 cups, reserve the rest for another recipe.
• There is no need to soak the beans for this recipe. Rinse the dried beans then add to a 6-quart pressure cooker (we have an Instant Pot). Add the onion half, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs. Add about 6 cups of water, but do not fill past the 'max fill line.' Add 1 teaspoon of neutral oil like vegetable or olive oil (this prevents the beans from foaming).
• Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes, and then allow the cooker to naturally release (you can tell when it is safe to open the cooker when the steam release valve drops). We recommend you read the user manual of your specific pressure cooker before using this method.
• Remove the onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs, and then discard them. Season the beans and liquid with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and go from there based on your tastes.
• Drain the beans, but do not discard the cooking liquid. We will use some of the liquid for making the refried beans. You will need about 3 cups of the beans to make refried beans. If you have more than 3 cups, reserve the rest for another recipe.
• In a large, skillet - a cast iron pan is perfect here - heat the oil (or butter/lard/bacon drippings) over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it smells sweet and is starting to brown around the edges, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the minced garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the 3 cups of cooked beans, moving them around the pan for a minute or two so that they are heated through. Add 1 cup of the bean cooking liquid and then use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to mash the beans into your desired consistency.
• If, as you are mashing, the beans seem a little dry, add a splash more liquid. The beans do dry out over time, so it's a good idea to keep the cooking liquid near by to maintain the best consistency, especially if you are making them in advance.
• Taste the beans and adjust with additional salt, pepper or spices. Serve with a squeeze of lime and your favorite toppings scattered on top.
• Use 2 (15-ounce) cans of pinto or black beans. Two cans will be approximately 2 3/4 cups of beans, which is close enough to 3 cups for this recipe.
• Open the cans, drain, and then rinse the beans. Follow the recipe instructions in the section labeled 'Make Refried Beans' above, but replace the 3 cups of home-cooked beans for canned beans. Instead of using the bean cooking liquid for thinning the refried beans, you will need to substitute for another liquid. We recommend using a flavorful stock (vegetable stock or chicken stock), you will need 1 to 1 1/2 cups.

HOMEMADE HEALTHY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mash until pureed using a potato masher. Leave chunky if desired.
• Heat beans in microwave or stove top just before serving.

HOW TO MAKE CANNED REFRIED BEANS TASTE BETTER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet.
• Add onion and saute until translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant over low heat.
• Add refried beans, break up and combine with butter, onion, and garlic.
• Add half and half, stir.
• Add sour cream
• Season with salt, pepper and cumin to taste (I used 1 teaspoon of each).
• Add cheese.

HEALTHIER REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and chili powder and cook for 1 minute more.
• Stir in the beans and chicken broth and cook until the beans are warmed through, about 5 minutes.
• Mash the beans coarsely with the back of a wooden spoon, adding more chicken broth to moisten, if needed.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Stir in the cilantro.

REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and chili powder and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the beans and chicken broth and cook until the beans are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Mash the beans coarsely with the back of a wooden spoon, adding more chicken broth to moisten, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the cilantro.

HOMEMADE REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse pinto beans in a colander, removing any unwanted pebbles or pieces that may be in the bag.
• Add the beans to a large pot, cover with water and soak overnight.
• Drain soaked beans and return them to the pot. Add fresh water to cover the beans up to two inches above them. Add onion to the pot and a couple dashes of salt.
• Bring beans to a boil, cover and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. Check the beans and if they're not completely cooked after one hour, let them simmer a few minutes longer until they're done.
• Drain the beans, removing the onion and reserving the bean broth water.
• In a large skillet (preferably an iron skillet), heat lard or oil over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and stir. Add the beans, cumin, oregano and 1/4 cup of the bean broth. (You could also chop the reserved onion and add it to the pan).
• Cook, gently smashing the beans as they cook with a potato masher or fork.
• Continue stirring and mashing, adding additional bean broth as needed until you get the texture you like and the beans are the consistency of soft mashed potatoes. Taste and season with additional salt, cumin and oregano, as needed. Top with shredded cheese, if desired.