Jazz up your Mexican fare without worrying about high sodium or additional preservatives with my rich and creamy Instant Pot Vegetarian Refried Beans. Make these homemade refried beans from scratch with this detailed recipe and step-by-step pictures.
Why Vegetarian Refried Beans?
I love Mexican food. Be it the tacos or nachos or burritos or enchiladas or quesadillas; I love the flavors of cumin, peppers, beans, cheese, and cilantro. I know I need to post a lot of Mexican recipes but before I wanted to share some dips, sauces used in that cuisine. (You can find Mango Salsa and Guacamole)
You might wonder why I am posting the refried beans recipe when it is readily available in markets. But wait, if you are careful about the high sodium content and preservatives and broth used like me, then you are at the right place. Also, when it is not difficult to prepare it at home, then why store-bought? You can make it with the pantry ingredients that are readily available at home.
Before getting into the Mexican refried bean recipe, let me answer few questions that I had in mind while exploring the Mexican cuisine.
About Vegetarian Refried Beans
What are Refried Beans?
- Refried beans are cooked and mashed beans, commonly used in Mexican, Tex-Mex and Latin American cuisines. Frijoles Refritos means refried beans in Spanish. However, the term “refried” might be confusing. We don’t need to fry the beans before or after cooking. (Sometimes they are fried or baked, but not always) It’s a cooked and mashed bean with some spices. Each cuisine has its own refried bean recipe, and today I am going to share a simple version with pinto beans. It might not be traditional or authentic, but it is definitely delicious and vegetarian/ vegan-friendly.
Can I use only Pinto Beans for Refried Beans?
- No, it is not mandatory to use pinto beans although that’s the most commonly used bean. You can also use red kidney beans or black beans.
Where can I use Refried Beans?
- You can use them in your bean burritos, nachos, enchiladas, tacos (few recipes coming soon) and what not? You can use it as a simple dip for your tortilla chips as well.
How can I store/save refried beans?
- You can store it in an airtight container and refrigerate if you are going to use within a week if not you can always freeze them and thaw it when needed.
Last, but not the least, you can make refried beans without an Instant Pot, too. I have included the pressure cooker version as well. Now without any further ado, here is the very low-sodium and no preservatives added vegetarian and vegan-friendly refried beans recipe.
Instant Pot Vegetarian Refried Beans Recipe
Ingredients:
- Pinto Beans – 2 cups
- Onion – ½
- Garlic Cloves – 3
- Cumin Powder – 1 tsp
- Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp
- Dried Oregano – ½ tsp
- Olive Oil – 1 tbsp
- Water – 2 cups
- Salt – 1 tsp
Prep – Work:
- Wash and soak the pinto beans for at least one hour but not more than 3 hours.
- Chop the onion roughly.
- Peel the skin from the garlic cloves and chop roughly.
Instant Pot Method:
- Set the Instant Pot in sauté mode and add the olive oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and garlic cloves.
- Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the drained beans.
- Then add the cumin powder, red chili powder, and dried oregano.
- Add water and mix well.
- Either set the IP in bean mode for 30 minutes or place it in manual pressure cook mode for 30 minutes.
- Let the beans cook and allow the pressure to release naturally.
- When the pressure is released, carefully open the lid and mix once.
- Now add the salt.
- And using an immersion blender you can blend the beans or blend it separately in a mixer jar. I blended it with mixer jar.
- That’s it – Vegetarian Refried Beans are ready. Store the dish in an air-tight container.
Pressure Cooker Method:
- Heat the pressure pan or cooker and add the olive oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and garlic cloves.
- Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the drained beans.
- Then add the cumin powder, red chili powder, and dried oregano.
- Add water and mix well.
- Pressure cook this for five whistles and allow the pressure to release naturally.
- When the pressure is released, carefully open the lid and mix once.
- Now add the salt and using an immersion blender you can blend the beans or blend it separately in a mixer jar. I blended it with mixer jar.
Notes:
- Adjust the salt and spice as per your preference.
- Adding salt before blending helps the flavors to gel nicely.
- For this Vegetarian Refried Beans recipe, you can use black beans or kidney beans instead of pinto beans.
- Olive oil is preferable, but you can use any other oil of your choice.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Vegetarian Refried Beans | Homemade Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pinto Beans
- ½ Onion
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 cups Water
- 1 tsp Salt
Instructions
Prep – Work:
- Wash and soak the pinto beans for at least one hour but not more than 3 hours.
- Chop the onion roughly.
- Peel the skin from the garlic cloves and chop roughly.
Instant Pot Method:
- Set the Instant Pot in sauté mode and add the olive oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and garlic cloves.
- Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the drained beans.
- Then add the cumin powder, red chili powder, and dried oregano.
- Add water and mix well.
- Either set the IP in bean mode for 30 minutes or place it in manual pressure cook mode for 30 minutes.
- Let the beans cook and allow the pressure to release naturally.
- When the pressure is released, carefully open the lid and mix once.
- Now add the salt and using an immersion blender you can blend the beans or blend it separately in a mixer jar. I blended it with mixer jar.
- That’s it refried beans is ready. Store it in an air-tight container.
Pressure Cooker Method:
- Heat the pressure pan or cooker and add the olive oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and garlic cloves.
- Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the drained beans.
- Then add the cumin powder, red chili powder, and dried oregano.
- Add water and mix well.
- Pressure cook this for five whistles and allow the pressure to release naturally.
- When the pressure is released, carefully open the lid and mix once.
- Now add the salt and using an immersion blender you can blend the beans or blend it separately in a mixer jar. I blended it with mixer jar.
Notes
- Adjust the salt and spice as per your preference.
- Adding salt before blending helps the flavors to gel nicely.
- You can use black beans, kidney beans instead of pinto beans.
- Olive oil is preferable, but you can use any other oil of your choice.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
P.S. Follow my Pinterest boards for more healthy and delicious recipe ideas.
I am sooo ready to jazz it up with this refried beans recipe!