I made refried beans!!

**julieb** · 02-20-2008, 11:26 AM

A can of refried beans was .89 at the grocery store and I thought maybe I could make it cheaper so.......here is what I did.

2 pounds of pinto beans sorted and soaked overnight....1.39
1 cup spicy bloody mary tomato mix........ guessing around .40
1 onion...... not sure on price came from our garden
1 teaspoon cumin
6 cloves garlic chopped.... also from our garden
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup canola oil............. haven't a clue on the price

I put it in the crockpot and let it cook all day adding water as needed. I then mashed it with a potatoe masher.

It was awesome!! Comparable to our favorite mexican restaurant. Much better than canned refried beans.

I froze four containers for four more meals. I used it as a dip for baked white corn tortilla (.99 at save alot) or I thought burritos or sometimes I will put refried beans in with hamburger when making tacos to extend the hamburger a bit.

This made alot of refried beans...delicious. Any other thoughts of the use of refried beans??

**McD** · 02-20-2008, 11:33 AM

Very cool! I will need to start doing this.

I make a layered taco-y dip with refried beans.

Start with slathering refried beans on a platter, top with a layer of salsa and sour cream, add various toppings (I used chopped onions and green chilies, others add olives, tomatoes, etc) then sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and lettuce.

Very yummy!

**suki** · 02-20-2008, 12:01 PM

Now, to make them truly refried... you have to fry them in a skillet with some lard!

**julieb** · 02-20-2008, 12:03 PM

Maybe I should call them healthy kinda like refried beans??

**Ceashels** · 02-20-2008, 12:07 PM

Mexican lasagna! Mmmmmm.

Use tortillas instead of pasta noodles. Salsa instead of tomato sauce.

Layer a little salsa, a layer of tortilla, I usually put in browned meat and onions, mixed with black beans, corn, salsa and spices. Then a layer of cheese on top of it. Then layer up the pan. You could do a layer of refried instead of meat (or half the meat) then a layer of corn and salsa. That sounds really good!

**suki** · 02-20-2008, 12:14 PM

julie, they sound awesome... good for you! I was just teasin' ya a bit!

**Drgnfly423** · 03-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Thanks! I've really been feeling guilty about buying canned beans. The prices here are really going up, up, up. I will be making these this week. We love to have quesedillas with beans a couple times a week. This will really help.

**lwlynch** · 03-09-2008, 03:40 PM

we for a while where crisping up corn tortillas in olive oil, drain and spread with the refried beans and add topping.
you can take enchilada sauce and dip tortillas (corn or flower) and fill with beans and onion and cheese and rollup till you fill a casserole dish, pour rest of enchilada sauce on top, cheese more.. and mmmmmm...

**Athena31** · 03-09-2008, 08:23 PM

Way to go! That is something I have been meaning to try as well. Maybe I should since it turned out so well for you!

**kellydoeshair** · 03-10-2008, 10:58 AM

that sounds YUM
I wonder if I could add in a tbls or two of adobo sauce

**Hannahs mom** · 03-10-2008, 03:50 PM

The last time I had leftover pintos, I just mashed them up as they were and let them fry a little bit in the skillet and froze them. They taste much better than the "paste" that comes out of a can. For some reason, I never thought about adding anything to spice them up. I will try that next time.

**Samigirl** · 03-10-2008, 03:57 PM

I make refried beans quite a bit, but have yet to hit upon a recipe that duplicates my favorite Mexican restaurant's beans. I've done the lard thing, but still can't get it to taste right. I'll have to give your recipe a try...it sounds good. I make Navajo tacos with mine....soft fry bread covered with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa, cilantro, and sour cream.

**frooz** · 03-11-2008, 02:58 AM

I'm going to try this. We eat a lot of them because we're vegetarian. We pay $3.00 a can here (about US 2.40). I have never seen pinto beans before though, I'm going to have to google and see what they are, we must use a different name.

**prairiewife** · 03-12-2008, 01:43 PM

As Dave says rice & beans, rice & beans. I make a pot of beans about once a week. I make them in the crock pot also, then put in a skillet and use a potato masher. I don't use lard.

I put some diced bacon, chopped onion, a diced jalapeno, 1 clove minced garlic in a pan to saute then add it to the crock pot with the beans in the morning. I add salt when they are done. The first night we have a bowl of bean soup with homemade corn bread. The leftovers I mash for refried beans.

**cheles2kids** · 03-12-2008, 04:36 PM

You could make just refried beans & cheese soft tacos, then add whatever veggies your family likes. Or you could do a layer of refried beans, then a layer of black beans and then your cheese with your fav. taco veggies, for another option to a veggie taco.

I also like to open a can and smear a bit on my flour tortilla *before* adding my taco seasoned chicken/hamburger meat.

Thanks so much for the recipe, it sounds really yummy!

Michelle