How to Make Chef John's Refried Beans - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the delicious, comforting taste of homemade refried beans. Whether you're serving them as a side dish to accompany tacos, burritos, or enchiladas, or simply enjoying them on their own, refried beans are a staple of Mexican cuisine that are sure to be a hit at any meal. And with Chef John's recipe for refried beans, you can easily recreate this classic dish in your own kitchen.

With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can transform a h...

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry pinto beans, soaked overnight
  • 4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
  • ½ teaspoon dried epazote
  • 9 cups cold water
  • ½ cup lard
  • 1 ½ cups diced onions
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons minced serrano chili pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground dried chipotle pepper

Information

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs
  • Additional Time: 10 hrs
  • Total Time: 12 hrs 10 mins
  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 8 servings

  • Drain soaked beans and transfer them to a stock pot. Add garlic, epazote, and cold water. Place pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Stir. Reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered until beans are soft, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain the beans and reserve all the liquid.
  • Melt lard in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and salt; cook until onions start to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in serrano pepper and chipotle powder; cook 1 minute. Transfer drained beans into skillet. Mash about half the beans with a potato masher or back of a spoon. Ladle some bean cooking liquid to skillet. Continue to mash and stir beans as you gradually add more liquid. Mash until the beans have reached your preferred consistency and texture. Taste and add more salt, if desired.
  • Nutrition

    317 cal.

    • Total Fat: 14g
    • Saturated Fat: 5g
    • Cholesterol: 12mg
    • Sodium: 491mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 38g
    • Dietary Fiber: 12g
    • Total Sugars: 2g
    • Protein: 12g
    • Vitamin C: 5mg
    • Calcium: 79mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 628mg