Beans are an essential part in Mexican cuisine. There is nothing so wrong as to believe that beans are poor people’s food.
In Mexico everyone eats beans because they are really delicious and very nutritious. Even better, they are super easy and quick to make.
By following this recipe you will able to cook amazing refried beans at home in less than 10 minutes with few affordable ingredients.
How to eat beans
You can serve beans in many different ways at any time. They are really nice with scrambled eggs for breakfast or as an accompaniment to any meat dish for lunch or dinner.
Another excellent way to eat refried beans is in a taco topped with crumbled fresh feta cheese. Also, they are so delicious as a snack served with corn chips.
However you decide to eat them, beans are so yummy and so good for you. They are an affordable source of protein, fiber, antioxidants and numerous vitamins and minerals.
In addition, the fiber in this kind of beans helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease.
The family trick for a fabulous beans
To make this refried beans recipe I’ll use a little piece of onion skin, just like people from the Mexican state of Veracruz do. This addition gives a crisp note of native flavors same as our predecessors the Aztecs did hundred of years ago.
I learned this recipe from my mum, who is from Cordoba, Veracruz. This is my personal interpretation of my mum’s recipe.
Canned beans is OK to use
I would like to share that in Mexico we make beans in the traditional way (raw beans in a large pot boiled in water for 2 to 3 hours). For an easy and practical way without risk flavor, I’ll use canned beans (my Mum will be in shock), but this is truly delicious and also healthy if you use the right brand of beans.
You will see that there are many different brands of canned beans in the supermarkets, the ones that I like to buy are from “Chefs choice” brand. They are non-salt added and organic. The best part, they are only AU$1.90. You can find this brand of beans in Harris Farm stores here in Australia.
If you are overseas, just make sure the beans that you choose are free of preservatives or any artificial colors and flavors. A good brand of canned beans should contain just natural beans and water. That’s all!
See some label differences below (click thumbnails).
Hints & tips: By adding a pinch of baking soda while cooking your beans will help to reduce or eliminate the annoying feeling of gas and bloating. It’s a kind of old-fashioned cooking tip that actually works very well not just for beans but also for any kind of legumes.
If you like or try this recipe please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. I love reading your comments. Also, don’t forget to share it through our different social media channels.
Happy cooking! 😉
- 1 can organic, unsalted, natural black beans
- 1 small piece white onion skin
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Pinch of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon feta cheese
- Strain beans from can. Transfer beans to a blender with ¼ cup (6 tablespoon) of its own juice. Set remaining liquid aside.
- Add salt and a pinch of baking soda. Quickly pulse beans to break them up just a little.
- In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Fry onion skin until brown and remove from heat.
- In the same saucepan with the remain oil add bean mixture. Add more beans juice or water if a more liquid consistency is preferred.
- Reduce heat and cook beans for about 5 minutes or until creamy texture, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and add more salt if required.
- Serve as an accompaniment with any kind of meat, as a snack topped with crumbled feta cheese and corn chips, or in tacos.