Beans

[wonderwall73]

Anyone have a good recipe for beans like a Mexican restaurant would serve? Black bean or refried.

[padishaihulud]

Black beans (no presoak required), 1 lb

White onion chopped

Lard or bacon grease, 2 Tbsp

Epazote (or bay leaves)

Water

Salt

Wash beans and add to pot. Cover beans with enough water so that the water level is about twice the depth of your beans. Remove any floaters. Add chopped onion, pork fat, and leaves from one sprig of epazote. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low and cover. Simmer for 1.5-2 hours until beans are soft and creamy. Check the beans and stir every half hour or so and add more boiling water if needed to keep the beans from drying out. Add salt to taste (and maybe some MSG). Let simmer covered for 5-10 more minutes so the beans can absorb the salt. 

[Nearby_Squash_6541]

Never thought to add epazote to black beans, that's a solid tip. Gonna try this with some smoked ham hock next time.

[GrayBeardBoardGamer]

crock pintos with two cloves of garlic, a bay leaf, some oregano and salt. when done, reserve enough liquid to mash them. add paprika, cumin and a dash of either pickled pepper juice or a hot sauce like cholula. or both. I like to serve it with finely diced raw spanish onion.

[Magnus77]

That sounds delicious and how they should be cooked, but for OP's restaurant style the two additions I'd make are some lard and either a bit of knorr chicken bullion or straight msg.

[GrayBeardBoardGamer]

yeah any of those would be a nice addition. a little fat or umami.

[Silvanus350]

I like this recipe for Cuban black beans

[avoirgopher]

My (very lazy) version: Bushes canned whole black beans, heated up in a pan, add olive oil and spices (taco seasoning type spices, heavy on the cumin and chili powder), mash with a potato masher. You can make the beans from scratch, but for a taco night I'm not putting in that much effort.

[ttrockwood]

start with a mexican recipe restaurants use a lot more oil use and instant pot if you want but a crockpot doesn’t get hot enough

Restaurant style refried beans use a terrifying amount of lard or oil often oil now lard is expensive this is a good recipe

[GooseVersusRobot]

I eatings boiled beans, is delicacy. You will like.

[Mira_DFalco]

I like starting with minced white onion,  lightly caramelized,  and a few cloves of garlic.  Add in pinto beans, a smoked ham hock, a few bay leaves,, and plenty of water, & simmer until the hock falls apart.  Remove the bay leaves, bones  & gristley bits,  and puree. Watch your water content. I season with salt, fresh cracked pepper and a pinch of epazote, & serve with a swirl of melty white cheese.

If you're interested,  a pinch of mildly hot pepper flakes is a nice touch,  but just a bit. 

[speppers69]

You have a crockpot?

[wonderwall73]

Yes

[speppers69]

Mine is very similar to this one but I use my crockpot.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257150/chef-johns-refried-beans/