Homemade refried black beans recipe on the stove with dried beans or canned are great. Creamy restaurant style but healthier and more flavor than with pinto. Will also share how to make in a slow cooker or as Pressure Cooker Refried Beans no soak too.
We will show you step by step how to make refried beans with black beans this time!! You may have had this side dish at a Mexican restaurant or just want a healthy option with your meal. Puree as smooth as you’d like or leave it a bit chunky but these are delicious. (affiliate links present)
Mashed Black Beans
You can make this gluten free side two ways, with canned or dry from scratch using our How Long Do Beans Take to Cook chart. The first is much faster but you cannot control all of the ingredients. From the store like Bush’s there will be preservatives which is usually in the form of salt. If you are watching your sodium content, all the more reason to make homemade with dried beans!
Refried Black Beans with Canned Black Beans
Whether you are making these with Pinto Beans or black, you can do so right out of the can. You would still want to heat them first as that will further soften the outsides making it easier to mash. The liquid in the can will help to create a creamy texture but you may need more in the form of broth or water.
How to make refried beans with black beans
If starting from scratch there are a few ways to get the first step done. If you don’t want to use your stovetop you could make Slow Cooker Black Beans to achieve that too. Takes longer this way but low and slow is ideal and you can mash right in the pot too.
Another great option is to start with Pressure Cooker Black Beans No Soak required with these. That means you can make these a lot faster. Use a plastic masher after you drain them right in the pot using the reserved drained liquid to thin it out if you like. Milk will make a smoother blend, broth will add more flavor.
They may be old. Yes dried beans have a lifetime of sorts and if they have been kept a really long time they can take up to twice as long to boil to tender. It is best to use them within 1 year for best results. If you didn’t soak overnight they may take all day to get tender too.
You can make black refried beans by mashing beans with a fork or the back of a spoon but it will take longer. A blender is your best option as it will get it to a creamy texture in no time, stand or immersion. Food processors will break it up but aren’t ideal.
Not really, you need a masher to get a smooth consistency. If this is all you have you can start with that to break it up into smaller pieces. Then pour into a bowl and use a potato masher or fork to push the smooth insides out for a creamier texture.
How do you mash beans?
First off you want them to be soft. Read our How to Cook Black Turtle Beans for in depth information on that. This step would come after soaking overnight and boiling, or opening your can and dumping the contents into a bowl. Choose your “weapon of choice” to get this done.
- Use the tines of a fork to press down on the beans, smashing them against the side of the bowl. Continue mashing until the beans reach your desired consistency.
- Press down firmly on the beans with a potato masher, using a rocking motion to break them down into smaller pieces.
- Blender or Immersion Blender works well with cooked beans to the appliance along with a small amount of liquid, such as water or broth. Pulse or blend until the beans reach the desired consistency.
Last choice, you can use the back of a large spoon to press down on the beans against the side of the bowl or pot, mashing them into a paste.
How do you make refried beans healthier?
Limit the amount of added fat, such as lard or oil. You can sauté onions, garlic, garlic powder and other aromatics in a small amount of olive oil instead of using large amounts of fats. Instead choose to mix in milk or mashed avocado that will give you the creamy texture you want.
You can also easily enhance the fiber content by incorporating vegetables such as diced bell peppers, tomatoes, or spinach into the mix. These additions not only boost the nutritional value but also add flavor and texture to the dish. We have a whole article on How to Make Canned Refried Beans Better you can read too.
How to Cook Dry Black Beans
Rinse dry beans and pour into a bowl with enough water to cover it + 3″ above that. Soak overnight. Next day drain that water and pour beans and sliced onion into a pot on the stove over medium high heat with enough water to cover them. Sprinkle in salt and allow to boil for about 1.5 hours or until super tender.
How can you make black beans better
Add flavor!! Especially if they are canned you need seasonings to taste for sure!! Fresh cilantro diced is a great one, a sprinkle of onion powder and fresh lime juice will make it taste closer to restaurant style. OR use a potato masher to mash into a dip with tortilla chips. You just add some of the water from the can as your cooking liquid in a pan over medium heat and voila!
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Refried Black Beans Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 pot
- 1 masher or blender
Ingredients
- 16 oz black beans dry
- water
- 1 onion sliced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/8-1/4 c milk broth or water
Instructions
- Black refried beans with dried beans – Rinse dry beans and pour into a bowl with enough water to cover it + 3" above that. Soak overnight.
- Next day drain that water and pour beans and sliced onion into a pot on the stove over medium high heat with enough water to cover them. Sprinkle in salt and allow to boil for about 1.5 hours or until super tender. Drain, set aside in a bowl.
- Black refried beans with canned beans – Drain can and reserve liquids from the can if you want to use that to thin out instead of milk or broth.
- Use a potato masher to smush softened beans as much as possible. Put a frying pan on stove over medium heat with oil and garlic for 2 minutes to fry. Add beans with all spices and mix together, warming for 2-3 minutes.
- Add a few tbsp of milk, broth or water until it is the consistency you desire. Serve with feta on top.