When a restaurant owner decides to add some Mexican dishes to a general menu, this person likely has at least a few ideas of suitable options. Perhaps the restaurateur is not a huge fan of Mexican food, but occasionally enjoys a beef and cheese burrito or a chicken chimichanga. When faced with an online catalog of wholesale mexican food in Pennsylvania, it’s easy to feel out of one’s league. It might be the first time this individual has ever wondered, for instance, what refried beans actually are.
Refried beans often are offered as a side dish in Mexican cuisine or included on top of a tostada or inside burritos, tacos and enchiladas. They consist of pinto beans cooked a certain way. North Americans generally are familiar with canned baked beans, but may not realize that these begin with the ordinary pinto bean. Mexican cuisine uses pintos for refried beans for a few reasons. First, they mash easily and smoothly. Second, they have a slightly sweet, mild flavor that provides a pleasing contrast with spicier dishes. They also are a good choice for individuals who like Mexican food but want milder flavors in the meals.
Refried beans from a supplier of Wholesale Mexican Food in Pennsylvania aren’t actually fried twice. The beans are boiled and thoroughly fried, then mashed and saved for later. As restaurant customers order dishes that include refried beans, the cook heats the beans as a side dish or adds them to the main course. Although this meal component isn’t meant to be spicy, chefs typically add some spice to enhance the rather bland flavor of mashed pinto beans. Garlic is a typical choice; the beans also may be served mashed up with a touch of cumin and chili powder.
Why are they called refried beans if they’re not fried more than once? A supplier of Wholesale Mexican Food can explain to customers that the Spanish word for fried mashed pinto beans is refritos, which means well-fried. Somewhere along the way, the word was translated improperly and the mistranslation became prevalent. No matter what they are called, the beans are a tasty ingredient in many Mexican dishes.
