Actually they are not that high in fat content as you claim...
Are refried beans healthy?
Yes! As long as they are prepared correctly by soaking the beans first. Properly prepared pinto beans, for example, are a great source of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and iron. There are plenty of good complex carbs in refried beans, along with plant protein.
I have tons of Pinto Beans for just such a need plus canned and packaged. I also make them from scratch and use either Lard/Crisco or Bacon Fat...
How to Make Mexican-Style Pinto Beans
Things You'll Need
2 cups pinto beans
4 Tbsp. lard, butter or oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
salt to taste
Sort pinto beans. Lay them out on a cookie sheet and look for any bits of dirt.
Some packaged beans come triple-washed, but it's a good idea to check through them anyway.
Soak the beans in four to six cups of water for at least two hours. You can soak them longer, or even overnight if you like.
The purpose of soaking is to rehydrate the beans to lessen the cooking time.
Drain the beans, rinse well, and set aside.
Saute onions in lard until soft, but don't let them turn brown.
The beans will be most authentic if you use lard, but you can use butter or vegetable oil if you would like to keep the dish vegetarian.
Add garlic and bay leaf and cook for two to three minutes. Although it's tempting, do not add salt at this time.
Cooking the beans in salt will toughen the skins and is one of the more common mistakes made when cooking pintos.
Pour in six cups of water. If you like, you can use chicken, beef or vegetable stock in place of water, but the stock should be mild so as not to overpower the taste of the beans.
Add pinto beans, bring to a boil, and then turn the heat down to a simmer.
Cover and cook for two to three hours, or until beans are completely soft.
The amount of time you soaked the beans will factor into the cooking time. Beans are cooked when they can be easily mashed with a fork.
Salt the beans to taste once they have finished cooking. Serve topped with shredded cheese and fresh, minced yellow onion.
Tips & Warnings
If you want to add more flavoring to your beans, use traditional spices and herbs like cumin, chili powder, cilantro, or oregano.
To make refried beans, take the cooked pinto beans, drain all juices, and cook with a little oil until the beans reach the desired consistency.
cr8crshr/Bill
