Sunday, September 27, 2009

Refried Beans


I've mentioned before that I generally don't like beans. I really wish I was one of those people that find them so delicious just on their own. But instead I'm always trying to find ways to cook them that I find really yummy. And I end up trying out a lot of recipes and only liking a select few. So I was really happy when I came across this one! These are super simple refried beans and are so very tasty. I was supposed to use pink or pinto or pinquito beans but I had black beans so used those. The recipe suggests mashing the beans after you add them to the onions but I found it hard to mash them with the onions there so preferred pre-mashing them. (Oh and if you're wondering, the little green curly thing sticking out the side on the right is part of a pea shoot! I love pea shoots.)

If this sounds good, you might also like:
Pink Beans with a Cardamom Yogurt Sauce
Roasted Taco Chickpeas
Spicy Indian Chickpeas/Chana Masala
White Bean and Roasted Garlic Soup

Refried Beans
Adapted from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

1 cup black beans, soaked overnight or 6-8 hours
1 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 small onions, finely diced
1 garlic clove, minced

Put the beans in a pot, cover them with water, and boil hard for 10 minutes. Remove any scum. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until they're partially tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt, then continue cooking until they're very soft. Drain, reserving the broth. Mash the beans up.

Heat the oil in a nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until it's nicely browned, 8 to 10 minutes, adding the garlic during the last few minutes. Add a third of the beans and 2 cups of the broth. (If you don't have enough broth leftover, just add water.) Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the beans up more as they simmer, working them into the broth. When they're fairly smooth, add another third of the beans and continue mashing. Add more broth if the mixture gets too dry. Repeat with the rest of the beans. Taste them for salt and keep frying until they look dry on the bottom and hold together in the pan. They shouldn't be runny, but they shouldn't be a solid, dry mass either.

15 comments:

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

That's pretty neat that so few ingredients can transform beans into something you like. I'm one of those weirdos who love legumes anyway so this sounds great!

Pam said...

I need to make refried beans out of black beans - great idea and recipe.

Amy said...

Mmmm I LOVE beans!! (I just wish they loved me!!) Black beans are the best! I love your recipe. Yum!!!

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Refried beans are so yummy. I like that your recipe doesn't have a ton of fat involved. When it says "beans, soaked", how long have they been soaking? Overnight?

Deborah said...

I've never made my own refried beans, but I've heard they are delicious!

grace said...

refried beans is one of those things that's just 100 times better when you make it yourself. that canned stuff will turn anyone away from beans!

Vaala ◪ said...

Ooo, I like the sound of these. I'm always looking for ways to mix up my nacho recipe and this sounds like a great base.

eatme_delicious said...

Cookie Baker Lynn: I soaked mine overnight but I think somewhere around 6-8 hours would be good. I'll add that to the recipe, thanks!

Teanna said...

I could eat refried beans like there is no tomorrow, but I have never made them myself! This looks fantastic!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I've never made my own refried beans. I'll have to try this recipe. I do like that cookbook.

Juliana said...

Beans should be very good...lots of protein and fibers, I should definitely increase them in my diet...your refried beans with black beans looks yummie, creamy and full of flavor :-)

Unknown said...

I am one of those people that love beans in everything! However I have never heard of pea shoots, what exactly are those? They sound interesting!

eatme_delicious said...

Amari: Pea shoots are just the greens that grow from/with peas! =) They're delicious. You can find them in Asian grocery stores.

Anonymous said...

These sound great! I also make refried beans, but I don't think you'd like them; they're pretty bland. I'll have to try this. thanks!

Steph said...

Refried beans are one of my favourites. There's something about the texture I love when the beans are heated/cooked vs if they were just processed in the fp from the can for dip.