There was a time when I used canned refried beans, but those days are over. Homemade is so much better and almost as easy as cracking open a can. A few years ago I shared my go-to vegan refried beans recipe, using pinto beans. But sometimes I like to switch things up a bit. That’s why I created this refried black bean recipe. It uses the same basic method as my old recipe, but I modified the seasonings a bit to suit the richly savory flavor of black beans. Whip up a batch of these babies and you’re never far from a delicious dinner of tacos, burritos or tostadas. Tip: You can absolutely adjust the spice profile to suit your personal preference. For example, if you’d like a smoky batch of refried black beans, add some smoked paprika. For extra heat, add a little cayenne pepper. Tip: It’s up to you how creamy or chunky you make your refried black beans. Mash them lightly for chunky beans, or more for creamier beans. You can even stick them in a blender to make them super smooth and creamy. Season your beans with some lime juice and salt to taste when they’re done. I like to sprinkle mine with some fresh cilantro as well!
Leftovers & Storage
Refried black beans will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days, or in the freezer for about 3 months.
More Black Bean Recipes
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title: “Refried Black Beans” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-21” author: “Janice Worthy”
🫘 What Makes This Recipe So Good
They’re absolutely packed full of flavor, from the natural earthiness of the beans to the richness of the spices. They’re perfect any way you want to serve them. Load them up with cilantro or drizzle a little queso on top. Smear them in a burrito, scoop them up with chips, or spoon them onto nachos. They’re delicious AND super versatile. This recipe is super quick and easy, made in about 10 minutes. We’re using canned black beans so the prep is minimal, with no overnight soaking involved. Perfect if you’re craving a fast but nutritious snack or just realized your tacos need a little something extra. If you’re vegan, your refried bean options are surprisingly slim sometimes. Sure, you can get “vegetarian” refried pinto beans from a can, if you’re lucky. Most of the time, taqueria-refried beans are loaded with lard, a pretty clear no-no for the vegans in the house. These refried black beans? Totally vegan.
👩🏼🍳 Chef’s Tips
The consistency is entirely up to you. If you prefer runnier refried black beans, feel free to add more water or bean juice if you have extra. If you end up with too much liquid, never fear! The beans will thicken as they cook, so just let them cook a few minutes longer until they’ve thickened up to your liking. That goes for the texture of the beans, too! For really smooth refried black beans, you’ll want to mash 100% of the beans as well as you can. They won’t be as smooth as if you ran them through a food processor, but they’ll be nice and silky. If you prefer a little more texture, you just need to mash them less! Canned black beans usually contain added salt, so I recommend using low-sodium canned beans OR cutting back how much kosher salt you add to the dish. If you’re using homecooked black beans, be sure to factor in how much (if any) salt was added to the beans when they were cooked. Refried black beans are incredibly easy to dress up if you really want to take the flavors to all new levels. Add a little taco seasoning, or mix in garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, and chili powder. Stir in cilantro, diced green chilies, diced jalapeños, lime juice, or hot sauce. Just be very careful not to overdo the salt!
🤔 How to Cook Dried Black Beans
If you only have dried black beans on hand, use this method to cook them. For an added bonus (and digestive comfort), soak them first. There’s more info on soaking beans in the same link in this section.Try using your Instant Pot to cook dried beans, too.Do make sure that if you cook your beans from dried that you give yourself plenty of time to simmer them. If you try to speed up the process by cooking them above a simmer, the outsides will become tough, which is all-around not the best!
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