I love refried beans, particularly in bean burritos. Unfortunately, the unsalted commercial brands taste like canned crap. So I make my own. These are yummy and don’t take a lot of time as long as you remember to pre-soak the beans. Just make a mental note: beans before bed, beans before bed, beans before bed…. I use a food processor to achieve a smooth consistency, but if you don’t have one, just mash them by hand.
Serves 4.
SODIUM CONTENT: 12 mg per serving
INGREDIENTS
1 lb. (1 16-oz. pkg) dry pinto beans, soaked overnight in 4 c. water
8 c. water
2 T. vegetable oil
1 c. finely diced onion (abut 1 med onion)
1 T. minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
3/4 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. ground coriander
3/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
Using a colander drain beans, then rinse well. Place beans into a large pot, add water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium/med-low, cover pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, about 1 hour. Remove from heat. Carefully pour 1/2 c. of the bean liquid into a measuring glass, then drain remaining liquid and discard. Place about a third of the beans into food processor and puree until smooth. Spoon pureed beans into a clean bowl, and process remaining beans. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large saute pan over med-high heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Reduce heat to med/med-low, add pureed beans, reserved bean liquid and seasonings, and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Serve hot.








Can I use canned (low-sodium) pinto beans? I could have sworn I saw a recipe in your index for it that way and ran out to buy the canned. I detest soaking beans. It’s just a thing with me.
Would I change anything besides the cooking process for the beans?
By the way, you have so earned your wings!!!!! This site is my “go to” for just about everything!
Hey Cydley! YES, you can absolutely use this recipe w canned beans – and YES, there is also another recipe using canned low-so pintos, too! I also detest cooking the beans, unless using my pressure cooker, and even then it’s a pain. SO MUCH EASIER to simply buy them canned, and the texture is way better too.
YAYYY! Wonderful to hear you love the site and are finding it useful! Awesome!!!
Have a wonderful day!
Christy