Quick & Delicious Refried Beans

Spice Guru's Note:

My no-brainer recipe for quick, delicious refried beans.

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 3 mins
• Cook Time: 7 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 30 ounces canned pinto beans, undrained
• 2 tablespoons bacon drippings
• 4 teaspoons pickled jalapeno juice (or 2 teaspoons white vinegar)
• 1 dash garlic powder (or 1 small mashed garlic clove)
• 1 dash onion powder (or 1/2 teaspoon fresh mashed onion)
• 1 dash ground black pepper
• 1 dash ground allspice (or 1 pinch ground cloves)

Directions:

1. 10 REASONS YOU SHOULDN'T EAT CANNED REFRIED BEANS: (1) You nearly break your wrist trying to get them out of the can. (2) Your attempts at swallowing them are met with resistance. (3) Something seems wrong -- very wrong -- and you suspect it's the beans. (4) For a fleeting moment, you are convinced you have lockjaw. (5) Involuntary gag-reflexes frighten and bewilder you. (6) You have a flash of something vague involving the nearest sink. (7) Suddenly you find yourself running faster than your kitty leaves her "office of business". (8) Racing thoughts of panic and doom pervade you, and you just know you are going to die. (9) You want to shout out words of distress, BUT --.(10) The beans cross the finish line first. ANY QUESTIONS?.
2. ADD all ingredients to skillet over medium-high heat, including canned pinto bean liquid (30 ounces pinto beans, 2 tablespoons bacon drippings, 4 teaspoons pickled jalapeno juice OR 2 teaspoons white vinegar, 1 dash garlic powder, 1 dash onion powder, 1 dash ground black pepper, 1 dash ground allspice or 1 pinch ground cloves).
3. MASH beans to desired texture with a potato masher (I mash them to 50/50 ratio).
4. BRING to a gentle boil over medium high heat.
5. STIR occasionally as liquid reduces.
6. COOK to desired consistency (NOTE: beans will thicken considerably upon cooling!).
7. GARNISH with grated Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese while hot so that cheese melts (or you may warm slightly in a microwave).
8. ADD a dash of your favorite hot sauce if desired.
9. SERVE with your favorite Mexican entrees and enjoy!
10. ALTERNATIVE METHOD (Still Quick): HEAT bacon drippings in a skillet over medium heat; ADD 1 mashed garlic clove and 1/2 teaspoon mashed onion; SAUTE until softened; POUR 30 oz. canned pinto beans, including the liquid; STIR; MASH beans to desired texture with a potato masher; ADD remaining ingredients (4 teaspoons pickled jalapeno juice OR 2 teaspoons white vinegar, 1 dash ground black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice OR 1 pinch ground cloves); BRING to boiling, stirring often; COOK down to desired consistency (beans will thicken upon cooling); GARNISH with grated Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese while hot so that cheese melts (or you may warm slightly in a microwave); ADD a dash of your favorite hot sauce if desired; SERVE with your favorite Mexican entrees and ENJOY!

Reviews

[CJAY]

This is by far the best recipe for refried beans ever! I accidently put in 2 Tblsp. of jalapeno juice but it wasn't too spicy for us. I did the rest as written and we loved these beans. It was so easy to make and definitely better than canned. I served these as part of a mexican meal with chimichangas and rice. No more canned refried beans in this house. Thanks for sharing. Made for PAC 2011.

[Melanie Adrienne]

Awesome beans! And the "10 reasons" are a hoot!

[um-um-good]

We love this! So quick & easy. A real no brainer. I add some hot sauce to really give it some zip. YUMMY!!