Beans
Here are our recipes for bean stew using pinto and/or black beans for making refried beans or nachos; also includes a recipe for a bean casserole with zucchini, mushrooms, banana peppers and monterey jack: Mexican Pot Beans . Refried Beans . Refried Beans Casserole
Mexican Pot Beans
(for bean dip or refried beans casserole)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dry pinto and/or black beans (yields about 1.5 litres cooked beans)
- 6 c. water
- 2 Tbsp. oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. fresh oregano (1 tsp. dry)
According to Sally and Martin Stone in The Brilliant Bean, most dried beans double in volume and weight after being soaked and cooked. Soybeans and chickpeas can triple.
"As a general rule, 1 cup (8oz) of dried beans increases to 2 to 2½ c (1 to 1¼ lb) of cooked beans. One cup of dried beans is usually enough to serve four as a side dish."
... (1 lb = 453.6 gm)
Preparation
- On the evening before you make the beans, sort (to remove stones) and wash the beans well. Place them in a bowl large enough for the beans to triple. Add plenty of cold water - the beans will expand - add a little more water than you think is necessary. Cover the bowl and leave to soak overnight.
- The next day, remove any beans that are floating. Drain and rinse the beans. Discard the soaking water. Put the drained beans in a big pot and cover with fresh cold water. DO NOT ADD SALT. Bring to a boil.
- Add other ingredients (DO NOT ADD SALT!!!) Cover, and simmer for one hour or until beans are tender. This makes lots. I freeze it at this point in 750 ml yoghurt containers.
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Refried beans
Ingredients
- 750 ml cooked beans (Mexican Pot Beans recipe above)
- 2 Tbsp oil
- ½ onion, chopped finely (optional)
- ¾ tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. ground coriander
- ¼ tsp. garam masala (if available, or make your own garam masala)
- ½ Tbsp. fresh oregano (½ tsp. dry)
- salt & pepper to taste
Preparation
Mash beans. (I use a potato masher or the hand blender) In a heavy skillet at med-high heat put oil, onion (optional), mashed beans and seasonings. Fry, stirring often with a flat nosed wooden spoon. When you can see the bottom of the pan for a reasonable length of time (the whole thing will resemble a lava pool), the dip is ready.
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Refried Beans Casserole
Ingredients
- Refried beans (Refried Beans recipe above)
- Monterey Jack cheese, grated (about 6" x 1" x 1" block)
- 1 large onion, chopped coarsely
- 1 zucchini, chopped coarsely
- 1 banana pepper, chopped coarsely
- 20 mushrooms, chopped coarsely
- 1 Italian tomato, chopped coarsely
Preparation
- Put the refried beans into glass baking dish. Sprinkle about a quarter of the grated Monterey Jack cheese over the beans. Over that put chopped vegetables. Bake uncovered at 375ºF for 25-30 minutes until the vegetables are almost done.
- Remove from oven and put the rest of grated Monterey Jack cheese overtop. Bake uncovered at 375ºF for about 10 minutes more.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving with lots of corn tortilla chips to use for dipping.
old method: Put the refried beans into glass baking dish. Put plenty of grated Monterey Jack cheese over the beans. Over that put chopped vegetables. Bake uncovered at 375ºF for 35-45 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving with lots of corn tortilla chips to use for dipping.
Serves four
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ejm (aka llizard)
2000, 2002
Toronto Ontario Canada
