The Best Vegan Refried Beans [no-oil recipe]

There are so many creative ways to repurpose refried beans other than simply eat them which is also highly recommended as refried beans are so delicious eaten by the spoonful directly from the refrigerator!

A few ideas:

Quesadillas: Spread a layer of refried beans on a tortilla wrap, top with vegan cheese, cooked veggies, and salsa, and grill until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Nachos: Layer tortilla chips with refried beans, vegan cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapenos if liked, and coriander [cilantro] for a delicious snack or appetizer or starter dish. The nachos could be briefly air-fried or baked just until the cheese melts.

Alternatively use the refried beans for our Loaded Potato Wedges recipe which is essentially nachos but with potato pieces instead of tortilla chips, and the ordinary potatoes could be replaced with sweet potato wedges if preferred. The refried beans can replace the black bean filling for the loaded potato wedge recipe. This recipe also has an easy home-made guacamole recipe.

Breakfast burritos: Spread refried beans on a tortilla, add scrambled tofu or scrambled chickpeas, and top with salsa, avocado or fresh tomato and cucumber, and perhaps coriander for a delicious refried beans breakfast burrito.

Stuffed bell peppers: Cut the tops off bell peppers, remove the seeds and stuff with refried beans, rice, and vegan cheese. Bake in the oven until the peppers are nice and soft. You could do the same with courgette [zucchini] to create stuffed zucchini boats.

Tostadas: Top a crispy tortilla with refried beans, shredded lettuce, avocado, salsa, hot sauce, and any of your favourite burrito fillings. Tostadas are like a crispy open sandwich.

To bake a corn tortilla wrap or ordinary tortilla wraps so that it is crispy add the wraps to a baking tray in a single layer. You can either brush a little oil over each wrap or omit the oil. The oil will help crisp the wraps. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 180 Fan, 200C, 400 Fahrenheit, or Gas 6. Flip the wraps over and bake for another 5-7 minutes but the exact times will depend on your oven so do keep a close watch on the wraps as they may go too brown rather quickly. Once the crisp wraps are cool enough to handle load them up with your favourite Mexican toppings and fillings for tasty home-made tostadas.

Vegan chili: Add refried beans to your favorite cooked vegan chilli recipe to add extra flavour and texture. We have an amazing slow cooker Vegan Black Bean Chilli recipe that would be delicious with a side of refried beans or a scoop of refried beans stirred through. Our plant-based chilli recipe also includes an easy guide on making the best fluffy quinoa.

Bean dip: Mix refried beans with vegan cream cheese and salsa, to make a creamy and flavourful bean dip, or simply have the refried beans as they are for a tasty dip along with some crisp tortilla chips.

Veggie burgers: Mix the refried beans with cooked chopped veggies, shape into patties and bake, pan fry or grill for a tasty and protein-packed veggie burger. You may need to add a little bit of flour so that the burgers hold their shape firmer.

Alternatively have a refried burger similar to our vegan Sloppy Joe Burger, by simply adding hot or chilled refried beans to a bread roll or burger bun and fill with your favourite burger condiments.

Stuffed mushrooms: Remove the stems from Portobello mushrooms and fill with refried beans and vegan cheese. Bake in the oven until the mushrooms are tender and the cheese has melted.

Grilled cheese toastie: Fill two slices of bread with refried beans, shredded vegan cheese, ketchup, salsa or thin slices of fresh tomato, and toast until the toast is crisp and the cheese bubbly and melted. Alternatively, use the refried beans as a delicious sandwich filling.

Tacos: Spread a layer of refried beans on a tortilla, add your favorite fillings and toppings such as rice, quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, spring onions [scallions], grated vegan cheese, avocado, salsa, vegan sour cream, and perhaps some hot sauce for a quick and easy taco night.

Soup topper: Add a scoop of refried beans to our tasty easy Loaded Taco Bean Soup.

Buddha bowls or salad bowls: A dollop of refried beans is the perfect accompaniment to a delicious bowl of fresh veggies, grains, Crispy Tofu Bites, and sauces, etc.

Tex-Mex pizza: Drop spoonfuls of refried beans over your favourite pizza before cooking, add a dash of extra smoked paprika over the pizza, so delicious.

Carrot-hotdog topping: Refried beans are a tasty topping for amazing home-made carrot hot-dogs.

Vegan pate: A little dish of refried beans with a few crisp Scottish oatcakes is a tasty starter dish, side dish, or quick snack.

Any of your favourite Mexican dishes will pair well with refried beans such as tortillas, enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas, Mexican or Spanish rice, burritos, tacos, as well as baked potatoes especially sweet potatoes, potato fries, chips or wedges, crispy salad, roast veggies, steamed veggies, corn cobs, vegan coleslaw, crusty bread, or flatbreads.

Yes, refried beans are perfect for gluten-free diets with a few considerations such as using a gluten-free stock cube or bouillon cube and if replacing the amino liquids with soy sauce, choose gluten-free Tamari soy sauce or go for coconut aminos.

Liquid aminos is a popular ingredient in vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian cooking and is a type of seasoning made from soybeans.

Liquid aminos are made by fermenting soybeans with a culture of friendly bacteria and enzymes, which breaks down the proteins in the soybeans into amino acids.

The resulting liquid is then strained and bottled as a condiment that is quite strong flavoured so a little goes a long way and can transform meals with its deep umami flavours.

Liquid aminos are typically gluten-free, but it's important to check the label and ingredients list to confirm.

While soy sauce is traditionally made with wheat, which contains gluten, liquid aminos are often made with soy beans and without wheat and so are usually labelled as gluten-free.

However, some brands of liquid aminos may contain small amounts of gluten due to cross-contamination during processing so if you're sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, it's always best to check the label and look for products that are certified gluten-free.

Although the refried beans are perfectly seasoned and do not require any other flavourings added, a few additions can provide extra tasty textures and elevate the refried beans even more.

A few suggestions:

* cooked sweetcorn
* diced, cooked bell peppers
* cooked onions or garlic
* top with sautéed or fried onions
* cooked mushrooms
* chopped spring onions [green onions or scallions]
* pieces of cooked vegan bacon or vegan sausages
* roasted cherry tomatoes
* few drops of hot sauce
* sprinkle of shredded vegan cheese
* top with shredded vegan cheese and place under a grill [broiler] to melt
* a swirl of vegan sour cream
* toss over some crushed tortilla chips
* garnish with chopped coriander [cilantro]
* slices of fresh chilli
* canned jalapenos

Yes, refried beans are quite nutritious as the main ingredient is lots of beans! However, some shop-bought cans of refried beans may contain high levels of salt, fat, and undesirable additives so home-made refried beans where you can control the salt and fat content are always going to be more beneficial.

Protein: Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein, making them a great choice for vegetarians, plant-based diets, vegans, and carnivores!

Fiber: They are also high in dietary fiber, which supports digestive health and can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Vitamins and Minerals: Beans are rich in many important vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.

Low Fat: Despite the name "refried," these beans are usually low in fat, unless they are prepared with large amounts of lard or other fats. Even in this case, the fat can be reduced by using healthier oils or by reducing the amount used. Or omitting the fat altogether and adding in more natural plant-based flavourings.

While traditional refried beans are typically made with lard, it's not essential to use oil or lard to make them.

The name "refried beans" can be a bit misleading, as the "refried" term in the name comes from a mistranslation of the Spanish term "frijoles refritos," which more accurately means "well-fried beans" rather than "refried."

The basic process for making refried beans involves cooking beans until they're soft (this often involves simmering them in water with some spices and onion), and then mashing them until they reach the desired consistency. To get the creamy, smooth texture that's characteristic of refried beans, some type of fat is often added during the mashing process.

However, with some type of bean especially pinto beans its easy to achieve the creaminess and easy mashing as pinto beans are naturally creamy and soft, and using some of the bean cooking water or canned bean water to the refried beans helps with achieving the creamiest refried beans.

Including a small amount of vegetable stock powder or bouillon cube can also compensate for the flavour that the oil or fat would bring to the finished refried beans.

The most commonly used beans for refried beans are pinto beans as they have a great flavour and texture. Pinto beans are creamy, mild, and have a texture that mashes well, which makes them perfect for refried beans.

Black beans can also be used for a more robust flavour and darker colour and they tend to have a slightly earthier taste compared with pinto beans.

However, you can actually use any kind of beans for refried beans depending on your preference, including kidney beans, haricot beans or navy beans, cannellini beans, or even chickpeas. Also a mixture of different types of beans produces a delicious refried beans especially if pinto beans are also included.

In many traditional recipes, the beans are first cooked with onion and other spices until they're very soft. Then they're drained (save the liquid!), and mashed or blended until smooth. The smooth bean paste is then fried with a bit of oil or lard, and some of the cooking liquid is added back in to get the desired consistency.

However, for our plant-based and vegan adapted refried beans recipe oil, or lard which is animal derived, is not necessary as the refried beans are packed with flavour.

For a useful guide on cooking dried beans at home on the stove-top, slow cooker, and pressure cooker [my favourite option!] do have a look at the recipe notes and FAQ section on our Vegan Red Beans and Rice post.

Nutritional yeast, often referred to as nooch is a type of deactivated yeast that comes in the form of flakes or as a yellow powder and has a strong cheesy, nutty flavour which makes it popular as a cheese substitute.

It's often used by vegans and for plant-based diets as a flavour booster for everyday meals and recipes such as mashed potatoes, scrambled tofu, cheese sauce, refried beans, and pasta dishes such as macaroni and cheese.

Nutritional yeast is gluten-free, as well as a source of protein and vitamins, especially B-complex vitamins and is also contains a good amount of dietary fiber. Some types of nutritional yeast, but not all, are fortified with vitamin B12, an essential nutrient that is mostly found in animal-derived foods and can therefore be challenging for vegans to get from their diet.

Although, do note that if vitamin B12 fortification is important to you, you should confirm it is included by checking the product label as not all nutritional yeast products are fortified with B12.

A refried bean bar is the perfect summer time meal, Mexican themed or birthday party dinner, that can be as small or as big as you like. My family loves a small refried bean bar for our movie nights.

Here is a quick guide to get you started:

1. Make the Refried Beans: First and foremost, you'll need the star of the show - the refried beans. You could prepare several batches of refried beans and perhaps have a spicy refried beans, an extra cheesy refried beans, and a veggie packed refried beans which has cooked diced bell peppers, sweet corn, etc mixed through. Or just prepare several batches of the basic refried bean recipe.

Accompaniments: Offer a variety of base options like tortillas or taco boats (soft or crunchy), tortilla chips, Mexican rice, quinoa, cornbread, baked potatoes, carrot hot-dogs, and salad greens for those who prefer a burrito bowl or taco salad.

Offer a Variety of Toppings: The fun part of a refried bean bar is the variety of toppings. Here are some suggestions:

* Grilled or roast vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, courgettes [zucchini], aubergine [eggplant], mushrooms, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, etc.
* Fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados
* Salsas of various heat levels, from mild to hot
* Vegan coleslaw
* Potato salad, with a bit of mild chilli powder stirred through
* Guacamole or diced avocado
* Vegan cheese, nutritional yeast flakes
* Fresh coriander [cilantro], spring onions [green onions], chives, or other herbs
* Lime or lemon wedges for squeezing on top
* Jalapeño slices for those who like a little heat
* Corn kernels, grilled corn, mini corn cobs, baby corn cobs
* Chopped olives
* Sauces/Dressings: Provide a few sauce options such as salsa Verde, salsa, hot sauce, or a vegan sour cream (which can be made from soaked and blended cashews with a bit of lemon juice).

Drinks: Consider serving a variety of beverages, like infused water, fruit juice, plant-based milk, aguas frescas [Mexican soft drink], iced tea, or even a selection of Mexican beers or margaritas for an adult party.

Setup: Arrange everything in an easy-to-follow order: bases such as tortilla warps, taco shells, etc, then refried beans, accompaniments, toppings, and sauces. Ensure you have the necessary serving utensils for each item and use labels to identify what each dish or topping is, and to highlight any potential allergens.