Texas Style Refried Beans Recipe
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A friend once asked me to define childhood. Just out of the blue. I instinctively replied 'refried beans'. He looked bewildered. But he didn't see the image that flashed across my mind when he uttered the word childhood. It was an image of me, running back home from school to a plate of steaming hot refried beans and rice. The luscious creamy texture of mash and the beany taste of melt-in-your-mouth-tender pintos are still etched on the tip of my tongue. And I know, I'm not alone in my love for homemade refried beans.
Robb Walsh, author of 'Tex-Mex Cookbook', calls refried beans the mash-potato of Tex-Mex cuisine. I couldn't agree more. No plate on a Texan table is complete without a humble puddle of refried beans in the corner. It's the ideal accompaniment to any main course - tacos, tortillas, burritos, or rice. And for fans like me...a deliciously complete meal all by itself.
While we've adapted this Mexican food-born dish to our cuisine accurately, the name is somewhat lost in translation. Frijoles refritos, as it's called in Spanish, means frying the frijoles (beans) to perfection, to bring out their meaty flavor. The name hence connotes 'well-fried beans' rather than 'refried beans'. But as someone 500 years ago said, 'What's in a name? A frijoles refritos by any other name would taste just as delicious' (Those might not have been Shakespeare's exact words but had he tasted frijoles refritos, I'm sure he'd have agreed).
As with its name, the recipe for homemade refried beans also varies from place to place. Every Texan family boasts of their own personal (and best) recipe. But I've never tasted homemade refried beans as-good-as the ones my grandma used to make. So, here I share with you, a soulful recreation of her favorite recipe - Texan style refried beans, seasoned with a pinch of nostalgia.
Get ready to experience flavor like you never have before with this delicious and easy-to-make authentic refried beans recipe! With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy the best refried beans at home. Add a little bit of spice or keep it mild to make sure that everyone can enjoy it. Also, creamy refried beans will make a great addition to your next taco night or as a side dish with any of your favorite dishes. So let’s get cooking and make these amazing homemade refried beans recipe that is sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Refried beans are a nutritional powerhouse packed with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. Cooking beans is an easy and incredibly versatile side dish. You can serve refried beans alongside almost any meal.
It is a great way to control the flavor and achieved the desired texture of your beans, especially dry beans when you make delicious refried beans at home, which will result in a creamy yet substantial dish every time.
Dried beans are the foundation for this classic Mexican refried beans dish; all you need to do is soak, simmer, mash, and sprinkle some olive oil! With these simple steps, you can have homemade refried beans on the table in no time. You can also add the following for extra toppings - garlic cloves (how long do cloves last?) or minced garlic, shredded cheese or shredded cheddar cheese, bacon fat or bacon grease, cayenne pepper or bell pepper, and sour cream.
The Perfect Blend - Why this recipe works so well
Refried beans taste best when fried in lard. It brings out the meaty flavor of refried pinto beans (how long does pinto beans last?) and gives them a nice thick consistency.
Adding onion and garlic while boiling the beans allows their flavor to seep into the beans and water. This water, when later used to dilute the mash incorporates the onion and garlic flavor into it.
When you make refried beans, it is essential that you use fresh pinto beans and not canned pinto beans. Old beans take longer to cook and don't turn out as tender as fresh ones. Here's where you can find fresh pinto beans near you.
Making Refried Beans
Soak the Beans
A lot of recipes hold this step optional. But I would insist that you soak your beans either overnight, in cold water for 10-12 hours, or in hot water for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. This will save you considerable cooking time.
To soak your beans, put them in a large pot and fill it with water, till the beans are completely immersed. Cover and soak overnight. If you're soaking the beans an hour before cooking, bring water to a boil, turn off the heat, add beans, cover, and soak for an hour.
For the most extensive selection, I suggest buying pot online!
Boil the Beans
In a large stockpot, add in soaked beans, water, half an onion, garlic, and salt. Allow water to come to a boil. Once it starts boiling, turn down the flame and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours till the beans are perfectly cooked. To check if they're cooked, take a bean and squish it with your fingers. It should soften without any pressure. A little Mexican meal trick is to scoop a few beans in a ladle and blow on them. If their skins peel off, then the beans are perfectly cooked. Drain beans and keep half a cup of water for later use.
Save time and effort by ordering stockpot online!
Fry or Refry the Beans
Melt lard in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add finely chopped onion and garlic and cook them over low heat till they turn light golden brown. Add in the beans and cook for a minute, stirring it lightly. Then add in ¼ cup of the bean stock, and cumin and chili powder. Mash the mix using a bean or potato masher. Pour in more of the bean water gradually, till the mash reaches a thick yet smooth desired consistency. The best refried beans are done! sprinkle some finely chopped cilantro (how long does cilantro last?) on top and squeeze in a lemon (totally optional, I prefer my refried beans slightly tangy)
Skip the lines and order your skillet, cumin, chili powder, and potato masher online for a stress-free shopping experience!
Serve hot with rice, tortilla chips (how long do tortilla chips last?), or smother onto easy beef and bean burrito for a quick, delicious, and hearty snack.
Cultures have enjoyed the nourishment and deliciousness of refried beans for centuries. The combination of cooked beans (how long do cooked beans last?), Mexican food spices, bacon drippings, and other ingredients offers an unbeatable flavor that is abundant in nutrition and taste. Make your own homemade refried beans to enjoy in a dish or as a bean dip for an unforgettable experience.
Picture Credits: Minerva Aldrete
Texas Style Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup finely chopped yellow or white onion (about ½ small onion)
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 3 cups cooked pinto beans, or 2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp lime juice (about ½ medium lime), to taste
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent.
- Add and cook the garlic, chili powder and cumin, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the drained beans and water. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Mash up at least half of the beans, until you reach the preferred consistency. A potato masher or the back of a fork may be used to mash. Continue to cook the beans, uncovered, stirring often, for 3 more minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. 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 ready to serve.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
226.97Fat
4.44Sat. Fat
0.68Carbs
36.55Fiber
12.05Net carbs
24.48Sugar
1.38Protein
11.96Sodium
155.13Cholesterol
0Making refried beans from scratch is not only easy but also far more delicious than canned beans. With a few simple ingredients and just minutes of your time, you can create an unbeatable plate of comforting Mexican-style beans that will please even the pickiest of eaters!
Refried beans are a delicious way to add a kick of flavor to any meal by making this dish you can make someone love refried beans. When making a beans dish, you can make easy refried beans by using your own beans (homemade beans), storebought canned stuff (canned beans), or just simply buy refried beans (Whole beans). Whether you like your refried beans creamy, chunky, smooth or spicy, experimenting with different recipes and techniques can help you find the perfect version for your taste buds, which will satisfy even the most demanding palate.
