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Mexican · Sides

Refried Beans

VegEasy

Diet: Veg · Vegan · High-protein

Refried Beans is a Mexican dish. Keep some cooking liquid to control the finished texture.

Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min
Servings
6
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
Mexican
Course
Sides

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

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Representative photograph of Refried Beans.
Representative photograph of Refried Beans. Garnishes and presentation may differ. Photo credit and licence
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Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 6

Base

Beans

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; saucepan with lid; sieve; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.

Steps

Base · About 8 min

  1. Cook 40 ml neutral oil, 150 g onion, chopped, 15 g garlic, chopped in its oil 8 minutes.

Beans · About 10 min

  1. Add 900 g cooked pinto beans, 300 ml bean cooking liquid, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp salt; simmer 10 minutes.

Mash · About 5 min

  1. Mash to your preferred texture and cook 5 minutes, stirring. Add more water if too thick.

    Check: The beans are soft enough to mash and the mixture holds a soft mound.

Tips

  • Keep some cooking liquid to control the finished texture.
  • Judge Refried Beans by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Refried Beans takes to cook.

Substitutions

  • Use black beans instead of pinto beans.

Storage

  • Get perishable Refried Beans into the fridge within two hours, or within one hour above 32°C / 90°F. Eat Refried Beans within two days, keeping it covered at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
  • Bring cooked Refried Beans to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning it for even heating. When Refried Beans is part of the meal, serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts straight from safe refrigeration.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for Refried Beans one day ahead. For Refried Beans, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Refried Beans on the day of serving.

FAQ

What matters most when making Refried Beans?

Keep some cooking liquid to control the finished texture.

What can I substitute in Refried Beans?

Use black beans instead of pinto beans.

Can I prepare Refried Beans ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for Refried Beans one day ahead. For Refried Beans, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Refried Beans on the day of serving.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating

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