Beans are the perfect food. They’re inexpensive, easy to make, and you can transform them with just a few herbs or spices.
I add dried ancho chiles and a little smoked paprika to these Instant Pot refried beans to make them special.
Don’t Refried Beans Always Contain Oil?
When you eat out changes are good that the refried beans will contain oil.
If you are ordering them at a Mexican restaurant be sure to ask for no cheese or sour cream. I’ve been caught unaware before and I don’t want that to happen to you!
If you make them at home with this recipe, my Instant Pot Refried Mayocoba Beans, or even some of my slow cooker refried beans – you do not need oil to make amazing refried beans.
What Do You Eat with Instant Pot Refried Beans?
Serve over cooked brown rice or quinoa and top with Cauliflower Queso or Jalapeno Hot Sauce. Plus you can make both of those right in your Instant Pot!
I also like making lettuce tacos, but you can use corn tortillas to make regular tacos too.
Do You Have to Soak Beans?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I don’t take sides on this one and support whichever one makes your tummy feel the best.
Indians soak all beans, including lentils and Mexican people tend towards not soaking beans at all. So, it seems to me that there’s no one right way for everyone.
With that said if you have been having stomach issues since adding more beans to your diet, give overnight soaking a try.
How Do You Quick Soak Beans in the Instant Pot?
If you prefer to soak your beans for digestive reasons, making beans at the last minute without pre-planning may seem impossible.
Add your rinsed and sorted beans, be sure to check for dirt and rocks, to your electric pressure cooker. Then cover with water. Cook for about 8 minutes and then carefully release the pressure manually.
I usually use about 6 cups of water per pound of beans, but don’t worry about using too much water because after this quick soak cook they will be rinsed and cooked with fresh water.
What Are Ancho Chiles?
They are ripened and dried poblano peppers. Once dried the flavor is complex and perfect for seasoning beans.
Since they turn red if left on the vine long enough, you may have never equated them with the green poblanos you see in the produce section.
Ancho chilies are not super spicy, though sometimes they have a small amount of heat to them.
Most of the ones I’ve bought have been pretty mild, so you can use them if you aren’t a fan of spicy foods.
Where Can I Buy Ancho Chiles?
If you have a Hispanic grocery where you live shop there. You’ll find whole dried chilies, fresh chilies, inexpensive specialty beans and so much more.
It’s worth a trip and you may find some new-to-you veggies to try as well.
In the middle of nowhere? Don’t worry, you can always order some on Amazon.
Quick Soak Instant Pot Refried Beans w/ Ancho Chiles
Equipment
Ingredients
Quick Soak Ingredients
- 1 pound 454 g dry pinto beans or Rancho Gordo Flor de Junio, or similar style bean
- 6 cups 1416 ml water
Saute Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon 15 ml mild oil or water saute to make oil-free
- 1 cup 150 g chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
Pressure Cooker Ingredients
- 4 cups 944 ml water
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 whole dried ancho peppers these are mild, seeds and stems removed
- 1 to 2 dried chipotle or arbol peppers Optional: only if you want to make it spicy, seeds and stems removed
Before Serving
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Put the dry pintos and water into your electric pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Manually release the pressure, drain the quick soaked beans and rinse them and the inner liner.
- Heat the oil or water on the saute setting. Once hot add the onions and cook until translucent, then add the garlic and saute another minute.
- Add the 4 cups of fresh water, paprika, and chilies to your Instant Pot along with the quick soak beans.
- Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Carefully release the pressure manually.
- Try to mash one of the beans with a fork to see if they are soft. If not put the lid back on and cook for 5 minutes more.
- Mash the beans with a potato masher or you can use an immersion blender to get them extra smooth.
- Taste, add salt.
Letizia says
Hello! This recipe sounds delicious but I’m wondering what happens to the dried chilies. Do they get discarded? If you add them whole and just use a potato masher at the end won’t you have a bunch of whole chilies throughout?
Kathy Hester says
I usually use an immersion blender, but if you just mash there will be some pieces that you can mash smaller. Remember they aren’t spicy.
Letizia says
Thank you! I was just wondering if I was missing something since I didn’t see pieces in you pictures.
Kathy Hester says
I get that for sure!
Novena says
Can these be frozen? If so, best method? I’m single so need smaller quantities per meal. Thanks
Kathy Hester says
Yes and I do it all the time. I just put the amount I’d use in one or two meals in either a resealable bag or a freezer safe container.