Schmaltz Refried Pinto Beans Food

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the beans, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook, skimming occasionally, approximately 1 1/2 hours. To test for doneness, taste 3 or 4 of the smaller beans. They should be cooked through and creamy inside. Mash, along with the liquid in the pot, with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon until creamy.
• Heat the lard or other fat in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Saute the onions with the salt and pepper until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the mashed beans and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid evaporates and the beans form a mass that pulls away from the sides and bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately. Refried beans can be kept in the refrigerator 3 or 4 days and reheated in a covered casserole in a 350 degree oven.

SCHMALTZ-REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat, turning often, until browned and lightly crisped, 8-10 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add chile de árbol and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beans and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed to keep beans just covered, until beans are tender and beginning to fall apart, 1 1/2-2 hours. Season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes to absorb seasoning.
• Heat schmaltz in a pot or skillet over medium. Add beans and their cooking liquid and cook, mashing with a potato masher, until beans are nearly smooth and very thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and more vinegar, if desired. Thin with water if needed to loosen just before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Beans can be cooked and/or refried 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook 4 chopped bacon slices and 1 chopped onion in olive oil over medium heat, 7 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 minced seeded jalapeno and 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, dried oregano and kosher salt. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add two 14.5-ounce cans pinto beans (drained and rinsed) and 2 1/2 cups water. Cook, mashing, 7 minutes. Stir in more cilantro and hot sauce.

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Place a medium skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add 1 can of the beans and the chilies to the pan and cook, mashing them up with the back of a spoon. When one can has been smashed up, add the remaining can of beans and continue cooking to heat through. Season with salt and pepper and serve.