My Refried Beans Recipe is Better Than Yours

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.

Spread 1 pound of dried pinto beans on a clean surface and pick through them to remove any unwanted particles.

Rinse the beans under cold water and strain them using a fine mesh strainer.

Add the rinsed beans to a large pot and cover with cold water, about 3-4 inches above the beans.

Add 1/2 peeled yellow onion, 5-6 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon dried epazote, and 1.5 tablespoons ground cumin to the pot.

Crank the heat to high and bring the pot to a boil, which takes about 10 minutes.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer the beans for about 90 minutes until tender.

Check the beans for doneness by pinching them; they should easily squish.

Turn off the heat and drain off any excess cooking liquid from the beans using a skimmer or slotted spoon.

In a separate large frying pan, add 1/3 cup rendered bacon fat over medium-high heat and melt it.

Add 1 seedless serrano pepper to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes to flavor the oil, then remove the pepper.

Add 1 small diced yellow onion to the pan and reduce the heat to low-medium to caramelize for 20-25 minutes until brown.

Add 3 minced garlic cloves to the caramelized onions and cook for about a minute until fragrant.

Transfer the drained beans to the pan with the onions and garlic, and turn the heat to medium-high to sauté and infuse flavor.

Use a hand masher to mash the beans to your desired consistency, adding about 1 cup of the bean cooking liquid to rehydrate them.

Season the mixture with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper, and stir in the previously fried serrano pepper and 1 cup of shredded oaxaca cheese until melted.

Remove from heat and set aside, then serve in a large bowl garnished with crumbled cotija or queso fresco cheese and chopped fresh cilantro or oregano.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary