what exactly are in REFRIED beans?

yeah, maybe a dumb question but I don't really know what they are.

Cooked beans (either pinto or pink), various spices, and cooking oil (including, according to my friends who do authentic Mexican cooking), lard, although they can be made without lard).

It isn't a lot of lard, and the beans have a lot of fiber and protein.

Compare refried beans (237):

http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/16 103.html

with pintos (206):

http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/16 044.html

They make a great entree and if eaten with corn tortillas also make a complete protein

I just mash up cooked pinto beans, add some spices and heat it up in a non stick pan.  I don't miss the added fat at all.

clairelaine, I love refried beans and never even thought of that.  great idea! what spices do you put in?  cumin?  thanks.

lard? Really? Wow I'm a vegetarian and i didnt know that

Lard is traditional, but many people don't use it these days. As with so many things, read labels and/or ask how it is prepared. It can be made using vegetable oil and without lard.

You can eat refried beans just as is?  I guess I never really considered it, and I really have to eat up about four cans in two weeks 'cause I'm moving.

curious - if you buy them canned, look for the ones specifically marked vegetarian.  Most grocery stores have different kinds marked veggie, fat-free, etc.

ok thanks for the tips. I am in college and I don't think I'm going to eat them from the cafe anymore, i seriously bet there is lard or at least something else in there.

I've seen recipes for, and have tried, "bean-nut butter."  You take about a cup of refried beans (I used the vegetarian style) and add a tablespoonful of your favorite peanut butter.  You end up with a spread that tastes more like peanut butter than beans, is a lot less expensive, and has a lot less fat.

One of my staples is Old El Paso Fat-Free refried beans. You can get them mild or spicy. I really like the fat-free better than their regular style. I smear the beans on to a tortilla, add heaps of salsa, wrap it up burrito style, and nuke in the microwave for a quick meal. Or skip the tortilla and just nuke the beans, salsa, maybe a smidgen of cheese, to warm them up and eat it out of a bowl.

Per half cup it's only 100 calories, 6 g of fiber, 6 g of protein, but 580 g sodium if you're watching that.