Oaxacan Refried Beans Recipes

STEWED CHICKEN, REFRIED BEANS AND OAXACA CHEESE QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, chili powder, garlic, 2/3 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon, for 10 minutes. Add the chicken breast, nestling it in the sauce, and simmer, flipping once, until cooked through, 8 to 9 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate, shred it, and return it to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lay a tortilla on a work surface and top evenly with 1/2 cup Oaxaca cheese. Add a quarter of the shredded chicken and tomato sauce and a quarter of the beans. Fold the tortilla in half to enclose the fillings. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and ingredients.
• Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Cook one of the quesadillas, flipping once, until golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining quesadillas.
• Cut into triangles and serve with the guacamole, salsa, scallions and sour cream.

OAXACAN REFRIED BEANS RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon of lard until barely smoking. Add the onion, tomatoes and guajillo chilies, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is well browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the beans, whole garlic cloves, bay and aniseed, then stir in 10 cups water. Bring to a boil, then cover partially and reduce to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are completely tender, 1½ hours to 2 hours. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt. Set a colander in a large bowl and drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid. Remove and discard the bay leaves from the beans. Transfer the drained beans to a food processor and pulse a few times to break up the beans. With the machine running, add 1½ cups of the reserved cooking liquid and process until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed. Taste and season with salt, then set aside. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, heat 2 tablespoons of the remaining lard until shimmering. Add the minced garlic, cumin, coriander, chili powder and oregano, then cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the pureed beans and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to brown on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the pureed beans and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to brown on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Continue to cook and stir, adding reserved cooking water as needed, until the mixture has the consistency of mashed potatoes, 5 to 7 minutes. Off heat, stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon lard, then taste and season with salt and pepper.

ULTIMATE REFRIED BEANS WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• Cover beans with 4 inches of water and soak for at least 12 hours, or overnight.
• Place the pot with beans and water on the stove and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until much of the water has been absorbed and beans are soft enough to mash, about 2 hours.
• Crush the beans thoroughly with a potato masher. Simmer for 1 hour more.
• Take an immersion blender to the pot and pulverize the beans until there are no visible solids left. If any water remains, simmer until it evaporates and beans are reduced to a thick paste.
• Add milk, lard, garlic powder, salt, chile pepper, cumin, and cayenne and stir to combine. Cook for 10 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Transfer beans to a casserole dish and sprinkle with Oaxaca cheese. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes, removing foil at the 15-minute mark. Serve immediately.