Vegan Refried Beans
Creamy pinto beans, smoky spices, and a splash of apple cider vinegar turn these vegan refried beans into one of the easiest side dishes I make during busy weeks. The texture becomes smooth and velvety without any lard, while the spices give the beans that classic restaurant-style flavor. This recipe comes together in just 10 minutes and rivals any store-bought varieties I have tasted.
Servings: 6
Calories: 76kcal
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked pinto beans about 2 cans (15.5 ounces each), reserve water from one can
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Rinse and drain one of the cans of beans and add to a pot. Add the second can into the pot with the juices. If you use homemade beans, save about ½ cup of juice to add to the pot. Also, add about ½ teaspoon of cornstarch to mimic the thickness.
- Add the rest of the ingredients into the pot. Bring to a boil and cook about 5 minutes until hot and bubbling.
- Remove from heat, and allow to cool for another 5 minutes. Then add to a food processor.
- Blend until you get a refried bean texture.
- Serve with everything!
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this vegan refried beans recipe is to simmer the beans with the spices before blending everything immediately. In my experience, giving the beans a few minutes on the stove helps the spices absorb much more deeply into the beans themselves. The liquid also thickens slightly during simmering, which creates a creamier texture once blended instead of a thinner puree.
- Cool briefly: I let the beans cool slightly before blending so steam does not build up inside the food processor.
- Save liquid: Extra bean liquid from the can helps loosen the texture later without watering down the flavor.
- Blend gradually: I pulse a few times first before blending continuously for a smoother consistency.
- Taste after blending: The spice becomes more noticeable after blending, so I always taste before adding extra salt.
- Use warm beans: Warm beans blend much more smoothly than cold, refrigerated beans.
Nutrition
Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g