Refried Black Beans (Instant Pot)
I love beans of all kinds, but am very partial to black beans. I like them even more refried as opposed to refried pinto beans. Refried beans are a staple in Mexican cuisine. There are many additions you can add to the beans such as jalapeño, chorizo, fried pork skin, etc. This recipe is a very basic refried bean recipe that is also vegan if you cook in oil instead of lard and add no cheese.As I've ranted before, I'm not a fan of canned beans. I think that they are too soft. Plus I don't like all of the extra salt added to them. Having an Instant Pot has made boiling beans enjoyable. You don't have to soak the beans overnight and then cook for at least an hour or more. It takes 30 minutes total in the Instant Pot. No soaking required. A 1lb. bag of dried black beans (about $1.49) yields 6 cups of cooked beans, or about 4 cans worth of beans (about $4.00). A major difference in quality and you save money.If you don't have a bean masher, you can use the bottom of a ramekin or a cup for the mashing. I recommend investing in a bean masher. They are less than $10. The mashing process will take at least 5 minutes, depending on how smooth you want your beans. Just like homemade mashed potatoes, I feel there is nothing wrong with a few lumps here and there.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked black beans
- 2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil, or lard
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1-2 cups black bean stock from Instant Pot
- salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- crumbled queso fresco
Instructions
Dried Black Beans in an Instant Pot
- Put a 1/2lb. of dried black beans in the Instant Pot with at least 8 cups of water. A 1lb bag of dried beans yields 6 cups cooked, or about 4 cans if not using dried. Set on the Pressure Cooker function on high for 30 minutes.
- When he 30 minutes is up, drain the beans and set aside.
- Save the black bean juice when draining the beans. You'l will need to use some of this when making the refried beans.
Refried Black Beans
- In a large sauce pan over medium high heat, add the cooking oil. Add the diced onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and sauté fro 2 more minutes.
- Stir in the black beans, salted pepper. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium low. With a bean masher, start mashing the beans while simultaneously incorporating the black bean stock that you saved. Continue mashing all of the beans until they are smooth and creamy, slowly adding in more of the stock as needed. You will end up using around a cup of the stock.
- The overall bean mashing process will take about 5 minutes if you want the beans to be smooth.
- Serve the refried black beans as a side dish. Garnish with crumbled queso fresco.
