On 2011-04-30, Ophelia > wrote:
> Are these beans left over from baked beans?

Like sf sez, they're basically pinto beans and rendered pig fat. Ya
cook the beans, then add lard, bacon fat, etc, while mashing and
reheating (refried) in a skillet or pot. I've seen taqueria's use a
big ol' Robot Coupe stick blender to mash. Try different fats for
different flavors. I've seen some recipes call for half lard and half
rendered beef suet. I always include some bacon fat for the flavor.
Most Mexican carniceria's (meat mkt) sell rendered lard from when they
make chicarones (pork cracklins). Better than using packaged lard,
which is hydrogenated.

nb