Easy Refried Beans (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ Base Ingredients
01 -
1 Tablespoon olive oil or lard
02 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
03 -
½ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
04 -
¾ teaspoon chili powder or taco seasoning
05 -
⅓ cup water, plus more as needed
06 -
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans or 3 cups cooked beans
→ Optional Garnishes
07 -
Fresh lime juice
08 -
Shredded cheese
09 -
Chopped cilantro
# How to Make It:
01 -
In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, salt, and chili powder. Cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
02 -
Add the pinto beans (leave one can with juice and drain the other) and water. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until heated through.
03 -
Reduce heat to low and remove lid. Using a potato masher or fork, mash the beans to desired consistency. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender. Bring to a light simmer for 2 minutes, adding more water if too thick or simmering longer if too thin.
04 -
Remove from heat and adjust seasonings to taste. If desired, stir in optional garnishes before serving.
# Handy Tips:
01 -
For added flavor, add 1/2 cup chopped onion before cooking the garlic. Cook until translucent, then proceed with the recipe.
02 -
Traditional recipes use lard for authentic flavor, but olive oil works well as a modern alternative.
03 -
Adjust spice level by adding extra chili powder and ground cumin to taste.
04 -
Black beans can be substituted for pinto beans. If using drained and rinsed beans, increase water to 1/2 cup.
05 -
Store in a covered container up to 5 days. Revive dry leftovers with 1-2 tablespoons of water.