Homemade Refried Beans
Homemade Refried Beans are cooked and softened beans that are mashed and fried with bacon fat and seasonings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry pinto beans, soaked overnight and drained
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 10 cups cold water
- ½ cup bacon grease, or lard
- 1½ cups diced yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 medium jalapeño pepper, minced
- 1 teaspoon chipotle pepper powder
- green onion, for garnish
- cotija cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, soak beans overnight, covered with several inches of water.
- When ready, drain beans into a colander, then return to the pot, adding garlic, oregano, and 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat; stir and reduce heat to low, allowing the beans to simmer uncovered for 1½ to 2 hours, until soft.
- Drain the beans in a colander over a large bowl, reserving all the cooking liquid.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt bacon grease. Add onions and salt, cooking for about 10 minutes, until onions begin to brown.
- Add jalapeños and chipotle pepper powder; cook for 1 minute.
- Add the drained beans to the skillet, mashing half of them with a potato masher or the back of a spoon. Add ½ of the bean cooking liquid to the skillet, mashing and stirring the beans. Continue adding cooking liquid, mashing, and stirring the beans until they reach your desired consistency and texture.
- Serve hot or cold, garnished with cotija cheese.