Don’t underestimate the power of refried beans! These creamy delights are more than just a taco topping. Follow this link to find a huge collection of tasty recipes that use refried beans: Recipes that use refried beans
The Story Behind the Name Unraveling the Mystery of Why They’re Called Refried Beans
Refried beans are a staple side dish in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Their rich, creamy texture and savory flavor make them an ideal accompaniment to tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more. But if you stop and think about it, the name “refried beans” might seem a little odd. After all, the beans aren’t actually fried twice, so how did this dish get its name?
As it turns out, the answer lies in the translation from Spanish to English Let’s unravel the mystery behind the name of this beloved bean dish.
Introducing Frijoles RefritosIn Spanish, the term for refried beans is frijoles refritos Now, in Spanish, the prefix “re-” can convey different meanings depending on context It can mean again, as in rehacer (remake). But it can also intensify or emphasize, as in recalar (to overheat).
In the case of frijoles refritos, refritos doesn’t translate directly to “refried.” Rather, it conveys the meaning “well-fried beans.” So the name refers to beans that are thoroughly or “well” fried, not fried twice.
The Evolution of Frijoles Refritos
It’s believed that refried beans originated in Mexico, but the exact origins are obscure. One theory points to street food vendors in Northern Mexico who would fry leftover cooked beans in lard as a quick, inexpensive meal to serve. The term frijoles refritos may have originally described these repurposed boiled beans that were fried up to give them new life.
Another possibility is that the name comes from the method of preparing the beans. To make refried beans, dried beans are first boiled until very soft and then mashed or puréed. Next, they are fried in grease, which gives them their signature creamy, rich texture. So in essence, the beans are indeed fried twice—though not twice in the same form.
No matter the exact origin, what’s certain is that refrying the boiled beans developed their distinctive texture and flavor. The Spanish name frijoles refritos captures that the beans are especially well-fried.
Refried Beans in America
When Mexican immigrants brought their culinary traditions to America, the term frijoles refritos got mistranslated to “refried beans.” Likely because in English, the prefix “re-” generally means “again,” so refried simply sounded like it meant “fried twice.”
Despite the literal misinterpretation, Americans embraced refried beans with all their hearty, comforting goodness. They became a familiar staple on Mexican restaurant menus across the U.S. Refried beans are also a classic component of Tex-Mex cuisine, which blends American and Mexican flavors.
Making Restaurant-Worthy Refried Beans at Home
Now that you know the story behind their confusing name, don’t be intimidated to make homemade refried beans. Here are some tips:
- Soak dried pinto beans overnight before boiling to soften. Canned beans work too!
- Cook onions and garlic before adding mashed beans to the pan.
- Use a potato masher to achieve a smooth, even texture.
- Fry the beans in lard or oil over low heat, stirring frequently.
- Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper as they fry.
- Add bean broth as needed to get the perfect thick, creamy consistency.
Serve these homemade refried beans as a side dish, or use them as a filling for tacos and burritos. You can even top nachos with them for the ultimate snack.
The Mystery Revealed
Even if you’ve been eating them for years, you probably never realized that the name “refried beans” stems from a simple translation mix-up. Now that you know frijoles refritos really means “well-fried beans” in Spanish, the name makes a lot more sense! This shows that language can sometimes get “lost in translation.” So next time you enjoy these melt-in-your-mouth beans, you’ll have a new appreciation for their journey from Mexico to menus across America.
How Are Refried Beans Made?
The beans are cooked and mashed until they turn into a thick paste. Flavorings like jalapeño, chipotle, or garlic are then added. The beans are sometimes cooked some more in a pan with pork lard, but this doesn’t happen all the time. Vegetable oil is now more commonly used in Mexico. It is also possible to skip this step, which will result in healthier and vegan-friendly refried beans. If this is important to you, always check the packaging or the label before eating.
A Simple Homemade Recipe
- You can use canned beans that are already cooked or dried beans that you soaked overnight and cooked according to the directions on the back of the package.
- Chopped up very small, some or all of the following: garlic, onion, fresh green chili, red or yellow bell pepper, tomatoes
- Set the chopped ingredients above in a saucepan with a little olive oil. Cook them over medium-low heat. Cook for about five minutes until soft.
- Add some, all, or none of the following to the pan with the cooked beans:
- In place of the chili powder, you can use any of our Gran Luchito Fajita
- Chipotle Paste
- Lime Juice
- Chopped Coriander
- Cumin
- Sea Salt
- Fried Chorizo/Lardons
- Use a potato masher to mash all the ingredients together until the texture you want is reached.
- If you want the beans to be a little less thick, add a little boiling water.
- Remember to check for seasoning and serve warm.
For a more detailed recipe, you can check out our frijoles recipe.
Food Tech: Refried Beans | History
FAQ
How do Mexicans say refried beans?
What is the difference between refried beans and regular beans?
What is the meaning of the word refried?
What does refried beans mean?
The dish, originally called “frijoles refritos,” means “very fried” — and the beans are fried only once. In the English language, the prefix “re” means to do again. In Spanish, “re” is added to words in order to emphasize them. Hence, refried beans are actually well-fried once, not fried and then fried again and then fried again, and so on.
Why are refried beans called frijoles refritos?
Refried beans, known in its home country of Mexico as frijoles refritos, are one of the most iconic Mexican dishes. That said, many people wonder why exactly it’s called refried beans. Understandably, most people assume that means frying the beans twice, but that’s not really accurate.
Which beans are used to make refried beans?
In Mexican restaurants in the U.S., the pink pinto bean is most often used to make refried beans. However, black beans are preferred in the Southern part of Mexico. The pink pinto bean is the bean mentioned above and is the one I use extensively at home. They make a great frijoles refritos. 2
What does the term ‘refried’ mean in Spanish?
The term ‘refried’ in ‘refried beans’ is translated to ‘fried again’ or ‘fried twice’ in Spanish. In Spanish, the prefix re- can have the same meaning, such as in reanudar (to renew), reaparacer (reappear), and rehacer (remake). It is used to denote that the beans have been cooked and then fried again.