Easy Vegetarian Crock Pot Refried Beans Without Lard Recipes

EASY 1-POT REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• CANNED: If starting with canned beans, simply open cans and set aside. As the original recipe is written, about 2 15-oz (425-g) cans will yield 3 cups cooked beans.
• FROM SCRATCH: If cooking pinto beans from scratch, we recommend this recipe, which yields 5 cups cooked beans. We recommend reducing the serving size to six 1/2-cup servings (rather than 10 servings), which would yield 3 cups cooked beans. The spices and diced tomatoes with green chilies are optional.
• INSTANT POT: If cooking pinto beans in an Instant Pot, we recommend following this recipe but swapping the black beans for pinto beans. Be sure to save any leftover cooking liquid.
• REFRIED BEANS: To prepare refried beans, heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add oil (or water) and onion. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until translucent and tender - about 4-5 minutes. Then add minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes more. Turn down heat if browning too quickly.
• Next add your cooked beans and any of the cooking liquid. Depending on your cooking method, your beans may be looking somewhat dry or they may be submerged in cooking liquid. Because we're going to simmer the beans even more, you want them to be just submerged, so add only as much vegetable broth as needed to just cover the beans.
• Bring to a low boil over medium heat. Then add your salt. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes to further cook and tenderize the beans. If they begin looking dry or stick to the bottom of the pan at any point, add more vegetable broth to moisten.
• Your beans should now be tender. Our preferred way of mashing is with an immersion blender. If using an immersion blender, tip the pot to one side so the blade can be submerged and blend until the beans are creamy and smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, a bean or potato masher will also work. It just takes more work and they won't get quite as creamy.
• If you're blending or mashing and your beans have become too thick, thin with more vegetable broth as needed.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt to taste. We didn't find the beans needed more than this. However, you could add chili powder or chipotle pepper in adobo for some heat, or some ground cumin for smokiness.
• Serve as is, or garnish with desired toppings (lime juice, hot sauce, cilantro, red onion, or this vegan Mexican-style queso would be delicious).
• Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. To reheat, warm in a pot or saucepan, adding more broth as needed.

REFRIED BEANS WITHOUT THE REFRY

Steps:

• Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.
• Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.

BISABUELITA'S CROCK POT REFRIED BEANS (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Soak beans at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours in plenty of water. (I soak the beans in the crock pot.).
• Add to the beans one of the garlic cloves, finely minced, 2 tablespoons of the onion, bay leaf and a dash of black pepper.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours (or until beans start to boil) then cook on LOW for approximately 5-6 additional hours. Or cook on LOW all day for about 9-10 hours.
• Once cooking time has commenced, check to see if beans are soft. DO NOT drain!
• Heat a cast iron skillet* on medium heat and saute the onion, other garlic clove, cumin powder, and oregano in a little bit of oil. With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked beans to the skillet and begin by mashing using a potato masher. Add some reserved cooking liquid to help mash; mashing to desired consistency. (I puree most of the beans as we like our beans on the soupy side.).
• Once the beans are mashed to your liking, stir in the liquid smoke and butter, and about 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly until butter is melted. Taste and adjust all seasonings. You will probably need more salt.
• Serve and garnish each serving with a sprinkle of grated cheddar cheese and some green onion slices.
• Save about 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid for reheating the refried beans. DO NOT use water to rehydrate!
• *Cast iron will alter the color of the beans. This does NOT effect the taste.

REFRIED BEANS (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Sort and rinse dried beans; place in crockpot and cover with water (by several inches) and soak overnight.
• In the morning, drain and rinse beans (discarding soaking water).
• Return beans to crock pot, and add 6 cups water and the salt.
• Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or until beans are nice and tender.
• Drain cooked beans, reserving cooking liquid.
• Mash beans and return to crock (or may mash in the crock pot).
• In a small skillet, saute onion and garlic in lard or butter until tender and lightly golden; add to crock pot.
• Stir in chopped green chillies and ground cumin, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid to adjust the consistency as desired.
• Cover crock, and cook on high for 15-30 minutes or until heated through nicely, stirring occasionallly (may add additional liquid if needed).
• Adjust salt, if necessary, before serving.
• Garnish with cheese or chopped onion, if desired.