Quick Refried Beans Rick Bayless Food

QUICK AND EASY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Cook garlic cloves in hot oil, turning once, until brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Smash garlic cloves in skillet with a fork.
• Stir pinto beans, cumin, chili powder, and salt into mashed garlic and cook until beans are thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Smash bean mixture with a potato masher to desired texture. Squeeze lime juice over smashed beans and stir until combined.

QUICK REFRIED BEANS (RICK BAYLESS)

Steps:

• In a large frying pan put the oil and garlic. Heat over medium heat until the edges of the garlic start to lightly brown.
• Add the can of pinto beans with their liquid. Stir and mash (using a potato masher) for 10-15 minutes until the mixture is fairly smooth.
• The beans might be a bit runny, but once they have cooled and been reheated, they will have thickened.
• One of my daughters likes to have whole beans in her refried beans, so I keep some of the whole pinto beans aside and add them the last minute or two.
• This recipe serves 3-4 as a side dish. If you want to make up this recipe for bean and cheese burritoes, you will have to double the recipe.
• I often like to add a little cumin powder and a dash of oregano to this recipe while the beans are cooking.

REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans thoroughly, then place them in a large pot with the bacon. Pour water over the top. Use enough water to cover the beans by 1 or 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours. If the liquid seems to evaporate too quickly, add more water during the cooking process. The beans are done when they're fork tender, without much bite.
• Add the chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir and taste, adjusting the seasoning as necessary. Add in other seasonings as desired.
• Heat the fat in a large skillet and cook the onions until translucent. Add the beans to the skillet and mash them until they're the consistency you want. Stir and cook them until heated, then add the grated cheese. Top with the jalapenos.

CLASSIC MEXICAN FRIED BEANS WITH ONIONS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• In a large well seasoned or nonstick skillet, heat the oil or pork fat over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until deep golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cook for a minute or so, then use a slotted spoon to scoop in about 1/4 of the beans, leaving most of the liquid behind. With a bean or potato masher, or the back of a large spoon, mash the beans into a coarse puree. Add another portion of the beans, mash them in, and continue until all the beans have been added and coarsely mashed. Add about a cup of bean liquid or water and stir frequently over the heat until the beans are still a little soupier than you'd like to serve them (they'll thicken as they sit.) Taste and season with salt if needed.

CHEF JOHN'S REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Drain soaked beans and transfer them to a stock pot. Add garlic, epazote, and cold water. Place pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Stir. Reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered until beans are soft, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain the beans and reserve all the liquid.
• Melt lard in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and salt; cook until onions start to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in serrano pepper and chipotle powder; cook 1 minute. Transfer drained beans into skillet. Mash about half the beans with a potato masher or back of a spoon. Ladle some bean cooking liquid to skillet. Continue to mash and stir beans as you gradually add more liquid. Mash until the beans have reached your preferred consistency and texture. Taste and add more salt, if desired.

RICK BAYLESS SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the meat with 2 quarts salted water, about 1/3 of the onions, and half of the garlic and simmer until the meat is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Strain, reserving the broth for another use. When the meat is cool enough to handle, shred it into coarse strands with your fingers or 2 forks--don't worry that there are bits of onion and garlic mixed with the meat.
• Wash and dry the saucepan, set it over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot, add half of the remaining onions and cook until golden, about 6 minutes, then stir in the remaining garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes and chiles and cook until most of the juice has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Stir in the shredded meat and simmer for a few more minutes, then taste and season with about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Remove from the heat.