Frijoles Refritos (Refried Pinto Beans)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Country of Origin
Mexico
Description
Frijoles Refritos are rich, creamy mashed pinto beans cooked with aromatics and fat. Despite the name, "refritos" actually translates to "well-fried" rather than fried twice, referring to the deep frying of cooked beans in pork lard or oil to achieve a velvety texture.
Presentation & How It's Eaten
Served warm in a shallow bowl or as a side on a plate, typically garnished with melted queso fresco or cotija, and served alongside tortilla chips or warm tortillas for scooping.
Ingredients
4 cups cooked pinto beans (with ~1/2 cup of their cooking broth)
3 tbsp pork lard, bacon fat, or vegetable oil
1/2 small white onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Salt, to taste
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or cotija (for garnish)
Step-by-Step Directions
Sauté Aromatics: Heat lard or oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and fry for 4–5 minutes until translucent and slightly browned at edges. Add minced garlic and cumin; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add Beans: Pour in cooked pinto beans along with 1/2 cup of bean cooking broth. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer.
Mash: Reduce heat to low. Use a potato masher or back of a heavy wooden spoon to thoroughly mash beans into a smooth paste (leave slightly chunky if preferred).
Simmer to Consistency: Cook mashed beans, stirring constantly, for 5–7 minutes until thickened to desired texture. Stir in extra broth if beans look too dry. Season with salt.
Garnish & Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle crumbled cheese over top before serving hot.
Optional
Smokiness: Add 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce from canned chipotles while mashing for a smoky, spicy kick.
Cooking Tips
Don't Skimp on Fat: Lard or bacon fat delivers the authentic silky mouthfeel and classic restaurant flavor profile that vegetable oil alone cannot replicate.
Nutrition Facts
(Estimated per serving, based on a 6-serving breakdown)
Calories: ~180 kcal
Total Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 10mg
Sodium: 380mg
Total Carbohydrates: 20g
Dietary Fiber: 6g
Sugars: 1g
Protein: 7g
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