Mexican food is a staple in our house, especially for busy evenings. It’s popular among both vegetarians and “meat-atarians,” which is the mix in our house. One of my favorite Mexican meals is a refried black beans that can be served on its own with tortilla chips or as filling for burritos. Although canned refried beans are readily available, homemade versions are healthier and more fun.  Here is the recipe along with some suggested serving ideas.

Refried Black Beans
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 small carrots, grated
1 (28oz) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup water
1/2 green pepper, finely chopped
1/2 red pepper, finely chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 cup grated cheese
1 tomato, chopped
1/4 cup fresh chives, finely chopped

Saute onion and garlic in oil for about five minutes until it begins to soften and brown. Add in carrots, black beans and water. Cook for another five minutes on medium low heat and then gently mash with a potato masher until the beans start to break down into a paste. Continue stirring until beans and vegetable mixture achieve a smooth texture, adding more water if necessary. Remove from heat, stir in the peppers and then transfer the mixture to an oven-safe casserole dish. Smooth the top and sprinkle with cheese, tomato and chives. Bake for about 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly on top. Remove from oven and serve as you wish – I’ve included a few suggestions below.

Straight up!
Set the warm black beans out on the table along with a plate of tortilla chips and let the hungry masses dive in.

Burritos or tacos
Serve the refried beans with flour or corn tortillas or taco shells, plus salsa, sour cream, guacamole and extra cheese. A self-serve assembly station on the kitchen counter is usually a good approach.

On rice
Refried beans are great served on rice with all the fixings, and having this for lunch is a great way to use up leftovers.

Read more about guest blogger Erica of Nest and Sparkle.