This Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe will teach you how to cook dry black beans and turn them into flavor-packed, creamy refried goodness using the Pressure Cooking and Saute functions. Serve as a dip or a side with your favorite toppings and corn tortilla chips.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine healthy
Keyword Black Beans, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot Beans, Legumes, Refried Beans, Refried Black Beans, Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 1 hourhour15 minutesminutes
Servings 6½ cup servings
Calories 169kcal
Author Irena Macri
Ingredients
To Cook The Beans
1cupblack beansdry
2.5cupswater
1stock cubeveggie one
½teaspoonsalt
1-2bay leavesif available
1garlicclove, for added flavor
½onionwhite, for added flavor
For Refried Beans
2tablespoonolive oil
½ onionwhite, very finely diced
1teaspoonground cumin
1teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonchili powder
½teaspoonsaltor more to taste
2cupsblack beans cooked
1cupcooking liquidfrom the beans
½limejuice
Instructions
Add ingredients. Add beans, water, stock cube, salt, bay leaf, garlic clove, and ½ onion (uncut is fine as it’s easier to remove).
Cook: Pressure cook on high for 35 minutes (it will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins). Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15-20 minutes.
Strain: Remove the lid. Remove onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Strain the beans into a bowl as we will need to use ⅔ cups of the cooking liquid in the next steps.
Saute: Clean the pot. Press the saute setting. Add the olive oil and onion and cook for 2 minutes to soften. Then add the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and stir for a few seconds.
Refry beans: Add the cooked beans and ⅔ cups of the cooking liquid (if not enough available, add extra water). Bring to a simmer and use a potato masher to mash the beans to a chunk but creamy consistency. Keep cooking until some of the liquid evaporates and you reach that thick almost dip-like consistency. You can add a little more cooking liquid as you go.
Finish with a little lime juice and stir through. Taste for salt. Serve with a little chopped onion, cilantro, and extra lime wedges on top (maybe with corn chips on the side).
Notes
Soaking black beans: You can soak dry black beans in slightly salted water for 8-12 hours (e.g. overnight). The beans will rehydrate and expand and can be cooked much quicker. Soaked black beans Instant Pot cooking time is around 15- 20 minutes with natural pressure release.