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refried black beans recipe: served on a white dish with yellow corn tortillas
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Refried Black Beans Recipe

Prep Time1 day
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: any
Cuisine: caribbean, Latin American, Mexican, réchauffé

Ingredients

  • cooked Mexican black beans that have naturally broken down or been deliberately mashed home-made or shop bought
  • a generous quantity of good oil eg oilive oil (or prok dripping if you're not veggie)
  • 1 large onion sliced or finely chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic

Condiments

  • fresh or dried epazote, oregano, marjoram or thyme or any mixture of your favourite herbs
  • chipotles in adobo or smoky Spanish paprika

Optional Extra Ingredients

  • chopped skinned tomatoes
  • chopped sweet capsicums
  • chopped fresh green or red chillies
  • pinch of cumin seeds (&/or fennel, caraway and others)

Instructions

  • heat a generous amount of oil in a pan
  • start with whole spice seeds like cumin - let them sizzle for a few seconds until they release their aroma without browning
  • add the finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent
  • add the capsicums and fresh, if using, until they begin to soften
  • add the garlic, herbs and powdered or whole dry chillies / paprika, and cook for another couple of minutes until aromatic
  • add any extra ingredients such as tomatoes and cook them until they wilt
  • (I've been known to throw in leftover cooked vegetables or the remains of yesterday's soup)
  • now add the beans, stirring to incorporate into the aromatic oil
    if the mixture gets too dry, add some broth or water to achieve a softer consistency
  • every now and then, leave the beans undisturbed for a minute or so to develop a crust, then fold the crust into the bean mixture. Take care not to burn the beans
  • continue to stir the mixture until it has a consistency and aroma to your liking
  • refried beans like a garnish of crumbly cheese such as Mexican Cotija, Greek Feta or Turkish Lor
  • adjust the seasoning, serve and enjoy