Refried Beans
From Claire Lower on Lifehacker
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked pinto beans or one can
- 1 tablespoon of your favorite oil lard, bacon grease, chicken schmaltz, duck fat, vegetable oil, or butter
- ¼ onion finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 sprig of fresh oregano
- 1 bay leaf optional
- ¼ teaspoon cumin optional
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a sauce pan or Dutch oven until shimmering, and add onion, garlic, oregano, bay leaf, and cumin. Season with salt. Cook until the garlic is browned the onions are soft, and you scan smell the aromatics.
- Add the beans, season with salt, and cook until they are thoroughly heated and begin to fall apart a bit.
- Remove the bay leaf and oregano, and mash the beans to your desired consistency with either a potato masher or immersion blender. Taste and add more salt if needed. If the beans are too thick, stir in a tablespoon of water.
- Use your beans as the base for some excellent nachos, huevos rancheros, or just eat them with some high-quality tortillas.