Refried Beans Are Not Refried

Refried beans ranks 7th in the list of baffling Translations That Have Somehow Endured. If you like Mexican food, you probably prefer refried beans. They're delectable. They're also not as old as tortillas or guacamole, both of which are firmly connected with Mexican cuisine. Refried beans have only been around for roughly 100 years and are mostly associated with Tex-Mex cuisine. The name "frijoles refritos" is a direct and rather imperfect translation of the term "refried beans."

It simply means "well cooked" and "never fried again." This is because Mexicans use "re" to emphasize a word. So the frying oil is very hot or "equemar," so the beans taste very wonderful or "retebien," and refried beans are great in Mexican and American Tex-Mex cuisine once cooked but not refried. Refried beans are generally made using pinto beans, although any small dry bean, such as kidney beans or black beans, can be substituted. Refried is simply a mistranslation of "refritos" that got so popular that no one cared to correct it.