Refried beans are traditionally made with pinto beans. As an exciting alternative, this variant also incorporates red beans.
This quick and easy to prepare dish is ideally suited to the busy evenings of the week or to accompany typical Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes without meat.
Bring the heat to medium and add pinto beans, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika and crushed red pepper flakes, if you use them. Stir occasionally, until the beans are very hot and start to slightly break apart, about 8 to 10 minutes.
When buying canned beans, make sure they are free of excess sodium or fat. Too much sodium in food may lead to increased blood pressure and the risk of heart disease or loss of bone density over time.