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Mexican Refried Beans

These creamy refried beans are made from scratch with pinto beans, garlic, and jalapeño. A must-have side for any Mexican meal!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb dried pinto beans
  • 1 yellow onion halved and divided
  • 5 cloves garlic divided
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano divided
  • 3 tsp kosher salt divided (plus more to taste)
  • Water as needed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil or lard for traditional flavor
  • 1 jalapeño pepper diced

Method
 

Rinse and Sort the Beans
  1. Spread out the beans and remove any shriveled ones or debris.
  2. Rinse thoroughly under cool water.
Cook the Beans
    In a large pot, combine:
    1. Dried pinto beans
    2. ½ yellow onion (halved)
    3. 2 smashed garlic cloves
    4. 1 bay leaf
    5. ½ tsp dried oregano
    6. 1½ tsp kosher salt
    7. Enough water to cover the beans by at least 3 inches
    8. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
    9. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1½ to 2 hours or until the beans are very soft.
    10. Add more water if needed during cooking to prevent drying out.
    Prep the Flavor Base
    1. While beans cook, finely dice the remaining:
    2. ½ yellow onion
    3. 3 garlic cloves
    4. 1 jalapeño
    5. Set aside for sautéing later.
    Drain and Reserve Liquid
    1. Once the beans are soft, place a bowl under a strainer and drain the beans, reserving the liquid.
    2. Discard the bay leaf.
    Sauté Aromatics
    1. In the same pot, heat 3 tbsp olive oil or lard over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the diced onion, garlic, jalapeño, ½ tsp oregano, and 1½ tsp salt.
    3. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant.
    Refry the Beans
    1. Add the cooked beans back into the pot.
    2. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes.
    3. Add about ¾ cup of reserved bean liquid.
    Mash or Blend
    1. Use a potato masher for chunky refried beans.
    2. For a smoother texture, blend with an immersion blender or regular blender.
    3. Add more reserved liquid as needed to reach your preferred consistency.
    Taste and Adjust
    1. Taste the beans and adjust salt if necessary.
    2. Add a squeeze of lime or a pinch of cumin for extra depth, if desired.