Frijoles True Border Refried Beans Recipes

Steps:

• Combine water, pinto beans, and garlic into a large pot and cover; Cook over low heat for 5 1/2 hours; stir salt into beans and continue cooking until beans are very soft, about 30 minutes more.
• Heat canola oil in a skillet over high heat. Spoon the beans into the skillet without draining excess water; mash beans using a potato masher until they begin to lose their shape, about 3 minutes.

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, bring the beans to a boil in 8 cups water. Let boil for 15 minutes and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Drain beans in a colander and rinse. Wash out the pot and return the beans to the pot with 8 cups fresh water. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook until tender, about 2 hours over low heat.
• In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper, and cook for a few minutes to allow flavors to integrate. Drain beans and add to pan, mashing the ingredients together. Heat through and serve with minced cilantro or minced parsley sprinkled on top.

Steps:

• Pick through the beans and discard malforms and stones. Rinse the beans and cover with water. The water above the beans should be at least three inches. Bring to a hard boil and turn off heat. Let beans set for two hours and then drain.
• Put a tablespoon of shortening or lard in a large pot. Add the onions and cook until limp, add the garlic. Saute another two minutes and add the drained beans, the bay leaves, tablespoon of salt and enough water to cover plus two inches. Cover and simmer for two hours. Check to see that water covers the beans, you don't want to burn them or have too much water in them at the end of two hours. Test the beans for softness. If still a bit hard, cook until soft uncovered. The water level should be fairly low now, you want the beans moist but not runny when finished. Remove bay leaves!
• In another large pot add shortening or lard. I love really greasy beans but know it isn't good for me. So I use about a quarter cup and am quite happy. Melt the shortening and add a scoop of beans to fry (I use a spoon with slots in it to drain the liquid back in the pot). I add another spoon and another two spoonfuls, stirring. The fat only fries some of the beans. After five minutes add the rest of the pot of beans and stir well together.
• I use a handheld blender and whiz the beans to a consistency of all the beans being smushed but not of a uniform puree. I like texture to my frijoles. If too runny, simmer until thick again. If too thick, add water. Adjust the salt level before serving. Even better the second day!
• Some folks serve this in a bowl with a crumbly, salty cheese called cotijo seco on top, others with cheddar or fried chorizo sausage.

Steps:

• Heat the lard in a skillet over low heat, add the beans, and cook, mashing and stirring, until quite dry and a wooden spoon pulled through the center of the beans forms a long canyon, 15 to 20 minutes.
• If preparing the beans central Mexico-style, serve immediately, topped with a little cheese, if desired. If preparing rolled beans, continue to cook until the mass of beans pulls away from the side of the skillet. Shake the pan back and forth, sliding the beans to one side, then tilt the pan so the mass of beans flips over into a roll, like an omelet. A spatula may be used to help turn it. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with the cheese and onion, and accompany with the totopos.

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a large pot and cover with 14 cups water. Add the onion and set over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, skim off any foam that may have risen to the top, partly cover with a lid and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove the lid, stir in salt, partly cover with the lid, and cook for another 15 to 30 more minutes, until beans are completely cooked through and tender and the liquid is tinted from the pinto beans.
• Meanwhile, place the dried chiles in a small saucepan, cover with water and set over high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until chiles have rehydrated, softened and plumped up.
• Remove the lid on the beans, and, using a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs, discard the onion.
• Working in batches if needed, add the cooked beans along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, the dried chiles, the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce to a blender or food processor, and pulse until the mixture forms a coarse purée.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy casserole or sauté pan set over medium. Once hot but not smoking, carefully add the bean purée, as it will strongly sizzle and splatter. Stir well, incorporating the hot oil into the bean mixture. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan as the refried beans continuously attempt to create a crust, until the mixture thickens.
• Stir in the grated cheese, and continue to cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom and the sides, until the mixture thickens to a thick purée that holds its shape, and a clear trail can be traced in the bottom of the pan.
• When ready to serve, scrape into a bowl and garnish with the crumbled Cotija. Beans will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a saucepan or skillet with a couple tablespoons of water over medium and mash as they warm up, since they have a tendency to thicken once chilled.