Refried beans are a great accompaniment to any traditional Costa Rican meal.
2 cups dried black, red, or pinto beans, rinsed
2/3 cup vegetable oil
8 cups water
1 cup yellow onion, diced
1 cup red bell pepper, diced
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro leaves, diced
Salt and ground pepper to taste
Soak beans in water for two hours in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until beans are cooked, about 1 1/2 hours.
Remove from heat. Liquefy beans with their liquid in a blender or a food processor. Or, mash beans in the pot with a potato masher.
Heat vegetable oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and cilantro. Heat until onions are golden brown approximately 10 minutes.
Add beans and cook, stirring, until the mixture forms a thick creamy paste, about 10 minutes. Serve beans with your favorite dish.
Last updated: Nov 18, 2023