Refried Black Beans Recipe - The Anthony Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do restaurants make refried beans taste so good? ›

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.

Typically refried beans are made with pinto beans, which when mashed give a really creamy texture. Black beans have a bit more structure and don't mash up as creamy, but they have a wonderful rich flavor.

Squeeze in some lime juice

It makes sense you can balance out the richness of canned refried beans by squeezing in lime. The tart, sharpness of the lime cuts through the density of the beans to give it a savory flavor. Feel free to use fresh lime, but pre-packed bottles of lime juice are fine as well.

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.

It's just the liquid the beans were cooked in. To complete, a glug of extra virgin olive oil is poured over the beans. Since beans are pretty much fat-free, the olive oil lends necessary fat and a luxe mouthfeel that's rarely found in dishes made with canned beans.

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.

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.

While black beans are sometimes considered a healthier option than pinto beans, the truth is that they are each a great addition to a healthy diet as they're full of plant-based protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.

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.

How do I get my refried beans creamier? ›

Fat and Oil: Refried beans are traditionally cooked with fat or oil to create a creamy and flavorful texture. Restaurants may use ingredients like lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil to a.

Cook and stir refried beans into onion mixture until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir cream cheese into bean mixture. Spread mixture into a pie plate; top with Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

But if you don't mind using dairy, I strongly recommend making these refried beans with butter! I like to use part of it to sauté the veggies. But then — fun trick — if you stir an extra pat of cold butter into the refried beans at the very end, it will make them extra silky and add a rich hint of buttery flavor.

It is not uncommon for refried beans to have a white layer on top, which is usually caused by the beans being fried in lard or other fat. The white layer is typically made up of proteins and other components that have been released from the beans during the cooking process.

Frijoles are eaten with almost every main course alongside arroz. In many Mexican restaurants in America, refried beans are served with a layer of melty, gooey, shredded cheese on top.

Fat and Oil: Refried beans are traditionally cooked with fat or oil to create a creamy and flavorful texture. Restaurants may use ingredients like lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil to a.

Try bacon grease, chili powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, chicken broth, chili pepper, lime juice, cream cheese, taco seasoning, and more to make the best refried beans to serve with your next Mexican meal.

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.

The secret to creating beans that taste like they're from a restaurant is a long simmering time. This softens the beans and brings out all the flavor as well as marries the flavor from the add-ins into the beans. Mixing with a hand mixer softens the beans and gives them an authentic texture.