How to Make Refried Beans

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.

Soak 1 pound of pinto beans in water overnight with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt.

Strain off the soaking liquid and cover the beans with about 2 inches of cool water in a Dutch oven.

Add 4 slices of bacon, 2 ancho chilies, 2 guajillo chilies, 1 bay leaf, half of an onion, and 3 cloves of garlic (crushed) to the pot.

Bring the beans to a simmer on a Napoleon Phantom 500 gas grill using the side burner, cover, and let simmer for about 1 hour until tender.

Once the beans are tender, strain off the liquid, removing the bacon and chilies, but keeping some garlic.

Save about 1 cup of the cooking liquid (bean stock) for later use.

In a skillet, melt 1/4 cup of mangalista pork fat and sauté the other half of the onion until it softens and starts to brown.

Add 1 minced clove of garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds.

Mash the cooked beans into the skillet with the onions, adding the reserved bean stock gradually to reach desired consistency.

Season with 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning, and adjust salt to taste with Jacobson habanero salt.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary