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Home » Cuisines » Mexican

Refried Beans

Published: May 5, 2023 · Modified: Feb 24, 2026 by Deborah · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · #sponsoredpost · Leave a Comment

Refried bean in green bowl with flour tortillas in background
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This refried beans recipe is also from Rick Stein's The Road to Mexico recipe book.  

Refried beans are almost as important in Mexican cuisine as tortillas and guacamole.  Mexicans enjoy them at breakfast too.   Try them in a wrap with some scrambled eggs...it's yum!

We've never been a huge fan of tinned refried beans, but this recipe is delicious.   The beans are full of flavour and comforting...enjoy them as a side with any of your favourite Mexican dishes.

Tips

  • Lard vs oil - you can make refried beans with vegetable oil, but to get the best refried beans use lard!
  • Beans - check the packet, you may need to soak your beans overnight.  Note: 300g of dried beans turns into 600g once they're cooked.
  • This refried beans recipe is easily adapted if you're cooking for less or more people.

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How to make these Refried Beans

Ingredients

  • 35g lard or vegetable oil (see Tips)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 green jalapeno or serrano chilli, finely chopped
  • 600g cooked black or pinto beans in their cooking liquor (see Tips) (bay leaf, onions etc removed - see separate Ingredients and Instructions for cooked beans below)
  • 0.5 tsp dried epazote (optional) or oregano
  • 0.5 tsp salt

Ingredients for cooked beans

  • 300g dried black turtle beans or pinto beans
  • 1 onion, peeled and halved
  • 4 cloves garlic, bashed with the heel of a knife
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Melt the lard in a frying pan and sweat the onion until it's soft and golden. Add the garlic and chilli and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened.
  2. Depending on how textured you like your refried beans, either use a potato masher to mash your beans in a bowl with the cooking liquid or whizz them with a blender or stick blender for a smoother result.
  3. Add the beans to the pan with the fried onions and cook over a medium heat with the epazote or oregano and the salt until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. It's better to keep it on the looser side as it will firm up considerably as it cools.
  4. Serve immediately or cover well and use within a couple of days in dishes such as huevos motulenos and tacos.

Instructions for cooked beans

  1. Rinse the beans very well and pick out any stones. Tip them into a large saucepan and cover with about 2 litres of water, then add the onion, garlic, bay leaf and salt, then bring to the boil.   Skim off any scum that rises to the top and continue to boil, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
  2. Turn the heat down and simmer the beans gently for up to an hour or until the beans are tender but not disintegrating.
  3. Drain and reserve about 150ml of the cooking liquid to use for making the refried beans.

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Refried bean in green bowl with flour tortillas in background

Refried Beans

By: Deborah
Full of flavour and comforting refried beans...enjoy as a side with any of your favourite Mexican dishes.
PREP: 20 minutes mins
COOK: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
TOTAL: 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Servings: 6 as a side or more as a topping for tacos etc
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Equipment

  • Frying pan
  • Saucepan
  • Stick blender
  • Colander

Ingredients

  • 35 g (1.2 oz) lard or vegetable oil (see Notes)
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 green jalapeno or serrano chilli finely chopped
  • 600 g (21.2 oz) cooked black or pinto beans in their cooking liquor (see Notes) (bay leaf, onions etc removed - see separate Ingredients and Instructions for cooked beans below)
  • 0.5 tsp dried epazote (optional) or oregano
  • 0.5 tsp salt

Ingredients for cooked beans

  • 300 g (10.6 oz) dried black turtle beans or pinto beans
  • 1 onion peeled and halved
  • 4 cloves garlic bashed with the heel of a knife
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Melt the lard in a frying pan and sweat the onion until it's soft and golden. Add the garlic and chilli and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened.
  • Depending on how textured you like your refried beans, either use a potato masher to mash your beans in a bowl with the cooking liquid or whizz them with a blender or stick blender for a smoother result.
  • Add the beans to the pan with the fried onions and cook over a medium heat with the epazote or oregano and the salt until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. It's better to keep it on the looser side as it will firm up considerably as it cools.
  • Serve immediately or cover well and use within a couple of days in dishes such as huevos motulenos and tacos.

Instructions for cooked beans

  • Rinse the beans very well and pick out any stones. Tip them into a large saucepan and cover with about 2 litres of water, then add the onion, garlic, bay leaf and salt, then bring to the boil.   Skim off any scum that rises to the top and continue to boil, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
  • Turn the heat down and simmer the beans gently for up to an hour or until the beans are tender but not disintegrating.
  • Drain and reserve about 150ml of the cooking liquid to use for making the refried beans.

Notes

  • Lard vs oil - you can make refried beans with vegetable oil, but to get the best refried beans use lard!
  • Beans - check the packet, you may need to soak your beans overnight.  Note: 300g of dried beans turns into 600g once they're cooked.
  • This refried beans recipe is easily adapted if you're cooking for less or more people.

 

You might also like to try:
  • Mexican dishes
  • side dishes

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 1125mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

KEYWORDS black beans, black turtle beans, pinto beans, Rick Stein, The Road to Mexico, vegan, vegetarian
Leave a star rating and comment below!

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Photo of Deborah in her kitchen!

Hello!   I’m Deborah and I’m married to David and have 2 lovely step sons.   David and I both love cooking…for ourselves, family and friends.   I’m definitely one of the lucky ones…getting cooked for and we enjoy cooking together.

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