Creamy Refried Black Beans Recipes

RE-FRIED BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Add olive oil to a medium saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Add in onions and saute until tender and golden brown 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and saute for an additional minute.
• Stir in the spices: cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and chili powder. Allow them to cook for one minute. Keep an eye on them and continuously stir so they do not burn.
• Add in beans and chicken broth and turn the heat down to low. Simmer until the mixture has thickened a bit, 5-10 minutes. (The mixture will still look a bit watery but will thicken when we mash the beans)
• Mash the beans with the back of your spatula or with a potato masher. Make sure to leave some of the beans whole to keep a chunky texture. Serve the beans as is or top with cilantro, raw onions, sour cream, or queso fresco.

CREAMY BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Soak the beans in a pot of water overnight. Drain.
• Heat the olive oil in the pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add the oregano and the beans, then add enough water to cover (about 9 cups). Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just tender, about 3 hours.
• Add 2 teaspoons salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 45 minutes. Season with salt. Let sit 15 minutes before serving; top with queso fresco and cilantro, if desired.

REFRIED BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, add lard. When lard has melted and begun to shimmer, add onions; adjust heat to medium-low, stir, and cook until translucent and soft, 6-8 minutes. Add 2 cups of Soupy Black Beans, well drained, to the skillet. Use a potato masher to mast beans directly in the skillet, while alternately stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture becomes a thick, creamy, relatively uniform paste. (Alternatively, you can use a blender.) When the refried beans have reached the appropriate consistency, taste and season with salt as necessary. Makes about 2 cups. (Use Refied Black Beans in Chef Camara's Torta Ahogada recipe.)
• Add water to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; then add beans, epazote, and garlic. Season with salt, stir, and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low, cover, and cook at a gentle simmer until beans are soft but not falling apart, about 40-60 minutes (checking after 30 minutes).
• Check beans for doneness by removing one from the pan and squeezing; it should be easily mashable. Taste and season with salt as necessary. Serve as a side dish, garnished with oregano. Makes about 4 cups.

REFRIED BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Place black beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain.
• Place beans in a pot and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer beans until very tender, about 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add black beans, green chiles, chili powder, and cumin; cook and stir until flavors blend, about 5 minutes.
• Blend black bean mixture in a food processor until smooth. Add tomato paste, chicken broth, vinegar, and salt; blend until desired consistency is reached. Return beans to pot and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes more.

LIGHT REFRIED BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Cook garlic in oil in a skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add beans with their liquid and mash with a potato masher or the back of a large spoon to make a coarse purée.
• Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot.
• Stir in enough of water to thin to a creamy consistency.
• Add pepper to taste.
• Serve warm, sprinkled with cilantro.
• (Beans can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat, adding water if necessary.) Makes 4 servings.