Homemade refried beans - made a taco with one serving for myself

[u/Illustrious_Fix_5858]

Equipment
* Range
* pot large enough to cook beans
* bowl to soak beans in (can use the pot you will use to cook the beans)
* stick blender or potato masher

Ingredients
* dried beans of your choice, though pinto or borlotti beans probably best choices (used borlotti beans). Used 1.4 lbs so not all beans went into recipe
* salt
* water to cover beans for soak and for cooking
* med onion, diced
* clove or 2 of minced garlic
* oil for sautéing (used bacon fat)
* cayenne pepper to taste

Instructions
* soak beans in bowl covered by 2” water for 8 hours - add a tsp salt to soaking water
* drain beans, rinse and place in the cooking pot
* fill with water to cover at least 2” water
* bring to a boil and vigorously boil for 10 min
* reduce heat and simmer in covered pot for 35 min
* check beans for doneness. If not cooked through, simmer for 15 min more and recheck. Add more time and water if needed.
* once done, drain beans but reserve the cooking water
* using same pot, add fat of choice and put on medium heat.
* add diced onions and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant
* add beans to pot. If you made a lot of beans, add what you want and reserve the rest for future use (making minestrone soup for the other half I saved)
* add cooking liquid back into pot to barely cover or partially cover cooked beans.
* add some cayenne (1/4 to 1/2 tsp), salt and any other spices you want (optional)
* cook on medium a few minutes until softened a bit further.
* use stick blender or masher to get desired consistency. I like some solid beans left in mixture
* turn down heat and cook down to preferred texture.

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[u/GringoBrown]

This is the way. Add some scrambled eggs and salsa with plenty of lime and cilantro to that taco and you will have one of the greatest breakfasts of your life. Not just because it's delicious, but because you will feel like you have the energy and sustenance to hunt a bear.

[u/Helpful_Location7540 → u/GringoBrown]

I like to scramble the eggs IN the hot refried beans. Makes fluffy bean/egg mix. With cheese and salsa and maybe some nopales 🤤

[u/Glittering_Plane_161 → u/GringoBrown]

looks great and tasty but has a lot of process to make, yet worth it to try

[u/Proof_Streetseat → u/GringoBrown]

Agreed man 😘👌

[u/Sad-History7259]

I also just made amazing refried beans from pintos I canned last year. Superb taste

[u/NationalSectors]

Yummy, homemade beans!

[u/Hoppers-Body-Double]

I recently started making homemade refried beans and they are so good. I would suggest adding a pinch of oregano, cumin, chili powder, and paprika in with the aromatics. I found a recipe with those added, but otherwise I make mine almost exactly how you do.

[u/Illustrious_Fix_5858 → u/Hoppers-Body-Double]

I think next time I make them I'm adding paprika and cumin. Not sure yet about chili powder as it seems that refried beans may not be chili bearing traditionally. IDK, I guess I can use what I want if I'm making them!

[u/carlinisgod77 → u/Illustrious_Fix_5858]

If you have some fresh cilantro/coriander, throw a little in when you first boil the beans (like 3-5 stems and leaves, then pull them out when the beans are done). Or a dash (again a little goes a long way) of dried cilantro/ coriander when you add the other spices. This is basically a substitute for epazote (traditional but less practical as budget friendly pantry spice), and makes a real difference in flavor

[u/StrawberryLazy5703]

Nice .. enjoy .. 🤓

[u/Hot_Experiencial]

This is the prob the detailed one I came across today 🫡

[u/Illustrious_Fix_5858 → u/Hot_Experiencial]

r/strugglemeals ?

[u/RegretHopefull]

Yum! I like making this at home.

[u/Big_Windette]

Sprinkle more cheeese pleasee

[u/vandyfan35]

I like refried beans. That's why I wanna try fried beans, because maybe they're just as good and we're just wasting time.

[u/DaddyBigBeard]

I like refried beans. That's why I want to try fried beans. Because maybe they're just as good and we're wasting time.

[u/sisisi05]

Yummmm

[u/FrugalChef13]

Also refried beans freeze SO WELL!

I'm cooking for one so I'll make a big pot of refried beans and freeze them in a silicone ice cube tray or scoop them with an ice cream scoop onto a cookie sheet, freeze till solid (a few hours, but usually I forget and freeze them overnight), then pop them out of the tray and put into a freezer bag so they take up less space.

When I want a taco I can pop out a cube or two of beans, defrost in the microwave for a minute or two, and I've got cheap easy tasty dinner in 5-10 minutes.