My Secret for perfect Refried Beans // Step by Step ❤️

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: none

Nutritional yeast provides a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

jalapeño

🥗Healthier: bell pepper

💰Cheaper: banana pepper

Bell pepper offers sweetness without heat.

Start by cleaning the pinto beans, removing any debris, broken beans, or rocks.

Rinse the cleaned beans under cold running water.

Place the beans in a Dutch oven with very hot water and let them soak for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, drain the beans and note that they have doubled in size.

Add the soaked beans to the pot with the ham hock, garlic, and onion.

Cover the pot and cook the beans on medium-low heat for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, adding boiling water as needed to keep them submerged.

After 30 minutes of cooking, add salt gradually while tasting to achieve desired flavor.

Check if the beans are ready by smashing a couple; they should be soft and creamy.

Remove the pot from heat and prepare to refry the beans in a cast iron skillet.

Melt 3 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet until hot.

Add 1/4 cup of chopped onion to the skillet and sauté until translucent and golden.

Add the cooked beans to the skillet, being careful not to add too much broth to avoid watery beans.

Use a bean masher to mash the beans to desired consistency, adding about 1/2 cup of the broth and 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon tomato flavor for extra taste.

Incorporate a piece of the ham hock into the beans while mashing for added flavor.

Stir the beans until they dry up slightly and are well combined with the bacon grease.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary