Vegan Refried Beans

The classic refried beans recipe is super creamy and oh so delicious plus vegan-friendly as well. Made with ingredients you already have at home, you will be giving this recipe a try today.

For this refried beans recipe, I like to add a good squeeze of lime juice after they are done and top them with a good sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

Learn everything you need to know about this recipe and print the recipe below.

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Let’s begin.

Are refried beans vegan?

It depends. Many traditional recipes call for the inclusion of lard, which is pork fat. Chicken stock might also be used in the recipe. This recipe, however, IS vegan. The fat in the recipe is olive oil, and vegetable stock is used.

What are refried beans made of?

Refried beans are a combination of beans, vegetables, spices, fat, and liquid. The main ingredient is definitely the beans.

Do refried beans have lard?

Traditional recipes do call for lard. This recipe uses a healthier, vegan-friendly fat – olive oil. If you want to make traditional refried beans, you could opt to use lard in place of the olive oil.

What makes refried beans refried?

The beans have already been cooked. You season your beans and fry them. You then mash the beans and fry them a second time. 

Can you freeze refried beans?

You can. As with anything you freeze, you must remember that the taste and texture may change. For the most part, refried beans are an excellent side dish to freeze. You’ll want to limit time in the freezer to 1 to 2 months. With that said, refried beans will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days without spoiling. 

What kind of beans are used to make refried beans?

Pinto beans are the most commonly used bean when it comes to refried beans. You can technically use any bean you like, but the flavor will vastly differ from what you enjoy at your favorite Mexican restaurant.

How To Store Refried Beans

You can store refried beans in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. If you freeze it, place it in a freezer bag and squeeze out all the air. Lay flat in the freezer and freeze for one to two months. When ready to eat, move it to the bottom of your refrigerator and allow it to thaw for 24 hours.

What can you serve refried beans with?

Refried beans can be a main dish, a dip, and a side dish. You can serve refried beans with:

• Cuban rice
• Arepas
• Tostones
• Chips
• Tacos

You can eat it with just about anything. 

How to make Refried Beans?

Before we continue with this recipe, please note that with the final 3 minutes of cooking, make sure to do it stirring constantly, or they can become too dry and burn at the bottom. 

What are the ingredients to make refried beans?

To make this recipe, you are going to need the following ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Onion
• Garlic clove
• Cooked beans
• Vegetable stock
• Ground cumin
• Paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Now that you have all of your ingredients refried beans from scratch by following the steps below.

Place a medium saucepan on the stove and heat over medium heat and add the olive oil.

As olive oil is heating, add the onions and saute for about 5 minutes.

Next, add the garlic, cumin, and paprika and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

Add the cooked beans and vegetable stock and cover the saucepan with a lid and allow it to cook without stirring for about 7 minutes. 

After the 7 minutes, remove the lid from your saucepan, and using a wooden spoon or fork start mashing most of your beans.

Continue to cook the beans and stir the beans constantly to avoid burning for 3 more minutes.

Your refried beans are ready to serve. You can top the beans with cilantro and a splash of lime juice.

Refried Beans Recipe

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