Let's get one thing straight right off the bat: refried beans are only fried once. "Refried" Is an anglicization of the spanish word refritos, which means "Well-fried. " For good frijoles refritos, mashing is actually much more important than frying. In fact, refried beans should probably be called "Mashed beans. "The idea is pretty simple. You take cooked pinto beans, add flavor, fat, and liquid, then mash them to your desired consistency. The added flavor usually takes the form of onion and garlic, spices, herbs, and sometimes lime juice. The fat could be from lard, butter, or oil. If you skip the fat altogether, the beans won't be as creamy or quite as flavorful. If you want a thicker, fluffier texture, then use less liquid or none at all. Refried beans are a versatile and healthful element of many central and south american dishes. Serve them as a simple side dish or incorporate them into burritos, nachos, huaraches, layered dips, pupusas, and casseroles. Served with rice, since the combined nutrients form the complete proteins that are essential for a healthy dietespecially good news for vegetarians.
