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Frijoles volteados
Fried black bean log
Frijoles volteados: Guatemala's fried black-bean log
Breakfast in a Guatemala City comedor often arrives with a glossy, dark log of beans beside the eggs and plantain: frijoles volteados, black beans blended smooth and fried until thick enough to roll out of the pan. The texture is dense and spreadable, almost like a pâté, with a sweet earthiness from slow-cooked onion. Spread them on hot tortillas or eat them with a spoonful of thick cream and crumbled cheese if you are not keeping it vegan. Most people stop frying too soon; if the purée still slumps when you tilt the pan, it needs more time. Chef's tip: use a non-stick pan and keep scraping the base with a flat spatula; the thin crust that forms is what gives the log its deep, almost smoky flavour.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ lb cooked black beans2 × 400 g tins, drained, liquid kept
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 cloves garliccrushed
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ tsp salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Blend 1 ¾ lb cooked black beans with ¾ cup bean cooking liquid or water until completely smooth.
3 minStep 2: Heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Fry 1 onion until deep golden at the edges, then add 2 cloves garlic for 30 seconds.
8 minStep 3: Pour in the bean purée and ½ tsp salt. Stir and scrape constantly, folding the purée over itself. It will spit at first; lower the heat a little if it does.
5 minStep 4: Keep cooking for 15–20 minutes, scraping the base, until the beans pull away from the pan in one dark, shiny mass and no longer flow when you tilt it.
18 minStep 5: Tilt the pan and use the spatula to fold the beans over themselves into a fat log, then roll it out onto a warm plate. Serve hot or warm.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 11 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does frijoles volteados take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of cooked black beans?
- Kidney or pinto beans, same amount.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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