As our world becomes smaller, ethnic foods become easier to find. The beautiful thing about beans is that they grow in many different warm climate areas all over the world. Their international popularity and availability makes beans one of the most commonly eaten food items in the world, serving as the backbone for thousands of years of delicious cultural recipes.
In Latin America, refried beans serve as a staple addition to any dinner or family meal. Real healthy refried beans are always made from pinto beans rather than kidney or black beans. Plump and flavorful Randall Pinto Beans make especially creamy and delicious refried beans. They are perfect for use in many Mexican, Southwestern and Tex-Mex recipes. This recipe is a bit spicier than your average plate of Mexican refried beans. Commercial refried beans recipes often contain only reconstituted pinto beans which are sparsely seasoned and lacking in flavor. The addition of hot pepper sauce gives this normally boring side-dish a distinctive Latin kick that’s sure to please. Chopped onions add a slight crunch to every delicious, cheesy bite and a pinch of sugar helps round out the flavors. This one is guaranteed to be a dinner table favorite!
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups of Randall Pinto Beans
- 6 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt, (or to taste)
- 8 ounces shredded jack cheese
- Extra cheese for the top, if desired
Instructions
- Drain the beans over a bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup of the liquid and reserve. Purée the beans with the 1/2 cup of reserved liquid in a food processor or blender until mixture is very smooth. (If blender is used, pour in the liquid first, then add the beans.)
- Heat the olive oil in a heavy sauce pan. Add the onion. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is just tender. Stir in the puréed beans.
- Add the sugar, hot pepper sauce and salt. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the cheese until it is melted. Serve hot as a vegetable side dish with more cheese melted on top of each serving.
- Makes about 5 cups (8 servings)
- "Extra-virgin" olive oil is the oil from the first pressing of the olives. It is also cold pressed, yielding an oil which is dark green in color and has a very fruity, full bodied flavor.
Randall Pinto Beans are an important part of a healthy diet that can be used to lower your blood pressure.
Ready to start planning your picnic? Just don’t forget the Randall Beans! Check your local grocery store or if you can’t find them you can always have these delicious beans in a jar shipped straight to you from our online store.
