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Creamy Refried Beans from Scratch Easy Authentic Recipe for Best Flavor

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This recipe delivers creamy, flavorful refried beans made from dried pinto beans simmered and mashed to silky perfection. Perfect for taco nights, potlucks, or as a comforting side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups dried pinto beans
  • 5 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • Salt to taste (start with 1 teaspoon)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, a pinch
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth or reserved bean cooking liquid

Instructions

  1. Rinse 1 ½ cups dried pinto beans under cold water to remove debris. Place in a large bowl, cover with plenty of water, and soak overnight (8-12 hours). For a quick soak, bring beans and water to a boil for 2 minutes, then cover and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans before cooking.
  2. In a large pot, add soaked beans and 5 cups of fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until beans are tender but not falling apart. Skim off any foam that forms on top. Add water as needed to keep beans submerged.
  3. While beans simmer, heat 2 tablespoons of lard or vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  4. Once beans are tender, reserve ¼ cup of the cooking liquid and drain the rest.
  5. Transfer beans back to the skillet with onions and garlic. Add cumin, chili powder (if using), salt, and pepper. Begin mashing with a potato masher or immersion blender, adding reserved cooking liquid a little at a time to achieve a creamy consistency. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
  6. Taste and add more salt or spices as needed. If the beans are too thick, add a splash more broth or water. The texture should be silky and spreadable but not runny.
  7. Cook mashed beans on low heat, stirring occasionally, for another 5 minutes to marry flavors and thicken slightly.

Notes

Use quality dried pinto beans for best texture. Quick soak beans if short on time. Lard adds authentic flavor; vegetable oil is a vegetarian/vegan alternative. Avoid over-processing beans to prevent gluey texture. Slow simmering enhances flavor. Skim foam during cooking to avoid bitterness. Adjust salt at the end to prevent toughening beans. Leftovers store well in fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: refried beans, creamy beans, pinto beans, homemade refried beans, Mexican side dish, vegetarian beans, vegan beans, authentic refried beans

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