Honduran Frijoles Fritos (Refried Beans)
Frijoles fritos — creamy refried red beans — are the quiet hero of Honduran cooking. Small red beans are simmered until soft, mashed, and fried with onion and garlic until thick, glossy and full of flavor. They turn up on nearly every Honduran plate.
These beans are the base of the baleada, the topping on catrachas, the heart of anafre, and a cornerstone of the traditional breakfast. A good pot of frijoles fritos does more work in the Honduran kitchen than almost anything else.
The classic style is smooth and fairly thick, often cooked down until they can be spread, and seasoned simply with onion, garlic and salt. Some cooks fry them in a little oil or lard for extra richness and that signature glossy finish.
Start with well-cooked, well-seasoned red beans, mash them to your liking, and fry them patiently so they thicken and develop flavor. Leftover beans only get better refried the next day.
Honduran Frijoles Fritos Recipe
Prep: 10 min · Cook: 30 min · Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked red beans, with some cooking liquid
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons oil or lard
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a pan and saute the onion and garlic until soft.
- Add the cooked red beans with a little of their liquid.
- Mash the beans with a spoon or potato masher to your desired texture.
- Fry over medium heat, stirring, until thick, glossy and spreadable.
- Season with salt and serve on tortillas, in baleadas or as a side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are frijoles fritos?
Frijoles fritos are Honduran refried red beans, made by simmering red beans until soft, mashing them, and frying them with onion and garlic until thick and creamy.
What beans are used for Honduran refried beans?
Small red beans are traditional in Honduras, cooked until tender and then mashed and fried. They have a rich, earthy flavor.
What are frijoles fritos used for?
They are the base of baleadas, the topping on catrachas, the heart of anafre, and a staple of breakfast, spread on tortillas or served as a side.
How do you make refried beans thick?
Fry the mashed beans patiently over medium heat, stirring, until the extra liquid cooks off and they thicken to a spreadable, glossy consistency.