Homemade Refried Beans Recipe

Once the beans are cooked, drain them and set aside. If you're not frying them right away, you can refrigerate them for a few hours.

When you're ready to make the refried beans, heat the canola oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion.

Stir in the cumin, letting it toast for a moment, then add the cooked beans to the pan. Begin mashing them right in the saucepan using a fork, the back of a wooden spoon, or a potato masher. Keep mashing and stirring until most of the beans are broken down and creamy; it's fine to leave some whole pieces for texture.

Stir in the cayenne pepper and season generously with salt and pepper. If you prefer a looser, creamier texture, add water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until the beans reach your desired consistency.