Refried Beans (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of refried beans? ›

If you want a thicker refried bean, then use less water. If you want thinner beans, then you will use more broth. Save the leftover bean broth and use it to stir into your leftover beans. As they sit in the refrigerator and chill, they will thicken.

If you're wondering what is the secret ingredient for restaurant-quality refried beans, the answer is fat. Restaurant-made refried beans honor traditional Mexican culinary practices by adding a hearty helping of lard or bacon fat drippings to their recipe.

I like to sprinkle in some taco seasoning, but you could add whatever spices you like — garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder are all good calls. Then, you mash the beans up directly in the pan and add just a little bit of vinegar at the end to really make the beans sing.

In a large frying pan, heat a splash of oil and fry the garlic, chilli and coriander stalks for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden. Drain the beans, then add along with the peppers, then season to taste. Fry for 15 to 20 minutes on a low heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy.

Fat and seasoning: Refried beans typically start with cooking beans in fat, such as lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil. This fat adds richness and flavor to the beans.

Yet, since refried beans often contain added fat and salt, they may be higher in calories, saturated fat, and sodium than other beans. These factors may impair your weight loss goals, raise your risk of heart disease, and increase your blood pressure levels.

Vegetable broth-use your favorite vegetable broth. It adds so much more flavor than just adding water. Spices-cumin, chili powder, and oregano are classic Mexican spices and really spice up these beans! Lime juice-a splash of fresh lime juice brightens up the beans!

Garlic and onion will add a dimension to your beans as well as a bit of texture. Chop them finely if you don't want chunks, or go all out and blend everything together so it's completely smooth. These beans make a great addition to nearly any meal as they're packed with a depth that improves both flavor and aroma.

Cream cheese is the not-so-secret weapon for making refried beans a yummy side dish to accompany rice, or a versatile taco or nacho topping. The dairy in cream cheese not only thickens refried beans to a creamier consistency — cream is in the name — but it also incorporates the rich, silky flavor of dairy.

Refried beans are not necessarily vegan as they are often made with lard. You can make them vegan by cooking aromatics in a bit of oil then adding beans, spices and water or vegetable broth and simmering until very tender.

How do vegans make beans taste better? ›

Dried Mushrooms & Mushroom Broth

The trick to wonderfully flavored vegetarian beans is this: steep the dried mushrooms in boiling water to make a broth, and then simmer beans in the mushroom broth (as all or part of the recipe's cooking liquid). After soaking them, chop the mushrooms and add to the beans, as well.

Traditionally refried beans are made with lard, so they are not vegan. However, we are simply swapping that out for some vegetable shortening (Crisco). You can totally bypass it all together if you want a lower fat version too. They are still delicious, just not as rich!

Milk makes refried beans creamy

This liquid can help make your beans smoother and taste richer. Once the beans are tender, it's time to fry them. Garlic is cooked in the oil and then the beans are added. The beans are mashed, and this is where the milk comes in.

The secret ingredient here is heat: without heat, the starch clumps and little thickening takes place Continue heating the beans on low while you mash them until you get the desired thickness. Add starch. If you want to keep your beans intact, use a commercial starch instead of mashing the beans.

Guys, it's time to ditch the canned stuff and start making homemade refried beans…for so many reasons! First off, most canned refried beans are made with pork lard, which is (a) not going to work if you are cooking for vegetarians or vegans and (b) totally unnecessary flavor-wise, if you ask me.

Lard – Here's where the secret ingredient comes in. Use lard to add a rich, savory thickness to the beans, or, use bacon fat like I do. Leftover bacon fat is extremely rich in salty, savory goodness, and it adds an entirely new depth of flavor to these Mexican refried beans — I can't recommend it enough!

If you don't like bacon flavor in your refried beans (which I don't, but some do), you can simply add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and some oregano to those beans. An alternate addition is adding a bit of your favorite salsa to them.