Schmaltz Refried Pinto Beans Recipes

EASY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained beans and water. Stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Use a potato masher or the back of a fork to mash up about at least half of the beans, until you reach your desired consistency. Continue to cook the beans, uncovered, stirring often, for 3 more minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste, and add more salt and lime juice if necessary. If the beans seem dry, add a very small splash of water and stir to combine. Cover until you're ready to serve.

SCHMALTZ-REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat, turning often, until browned and lightly crisped, 8-10 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add chile de árbol and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beans and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed to keep beans just covered, until beans are tender and beginning to fall apart, 1 1/2-2 hours. Season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes to absorb seasoning.
• Heat schmaltz in a pot or skillet over medium. Add beans and their cooking liquid and cook, mashing with a potato masher, until beans are nearly smooth and very thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and more vinegar, if desired. Thin with water if needed to loosen just before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Beans can be cooked and/or refried 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

QUICK AND EASY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Cook garlic cloves in hot oil, turning once, until brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Smash garlic cloves in skillet with a fork.
• Stir pinto beans, cumin, chili powder, and salt into mashed garlic and cook until beans are thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Smash bean mixture with a potato masher to desired texture. Squeeze lime juice over smashed beans and stir until combined.

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook 4 chopped bacon slices and 1 chopped onion in olive oil over medium heat, 7 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 minced seeded jalapeno and 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, dried oregano and kosher salt. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add two 14.5-ounce cans pinto beans (drained and rinsed) and 2 1/2 cups water. Cook, mashing, 7 minutes. Stir in more cilantro and hot sauce.

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the beans, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook, skimming occasionally, approximately 1 1/2 hours. To test for doneness, taste 3 or 4 of the smaller beans. They should be cooked through and creamy inside. Mash, along with the liquid in the pot, with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon until creamy.
• Heat the lard or other fat in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Saute the onions with the salt and pepper until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the mashed beans and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid evaporates and the beans form a mass that pulls away from the sides and bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately. Refried beans can be kept in the refrigerator 3 or 4 days and reheated in a covered casserole in a 350 degree oven.