How to doctor up some canned black beans?

squeeze of lime, chopped cilantro, diced tomato, diced red onion, canned corn, paprika, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin.

Every cajun cook's savory doctoring starts with browning a chopped onion (or half an onion, if it's a big one and you're doing just one can of beans) in your favorite fat (bacon grease, EVOO, butter, coconut oil). And I mean browning, not just cooking until soft. Next, add a little garlic, and a few shakes of chili powder (bonus points if it's ancho or chipotle, or smoked spanish paprika). Saute until fragrant, then add the drained, rinsed* beans, keep cooking until the beans are heated through & "dried" just a bit. If you're not cilantro-averse, add a whack of chopped cilantro and squeeze some lime over it before serving. Voila...
--variation 1: fry a strip of bacon in the pan before adding the onion; take it out & crumble up to use as garnish on the beans
--variation 2: add corn kernels w/the beans
--variation 3: add 1/2 finely chopped red or yellow bell pepper and 1 chopped jalapeno along with the onions.

Onion/garlic/bell pepper sauteed in fat + (appropriate seasonings for the meal, which might include a bit of "seasoning meat" like bacon, andouille, smoked sausage, etc) + beans = southern home cooking.

*draining & rinsing canned beans will yield a drier, more separate result. you can skip it, if you want a thicker, pastier, softer final dish.

What hungryone said except I prefer mine a bit wetter so I may drain and add some sort of liquid. A smoked ham hock browned in the bean pot and then simmered for a bit in water after browning the onions etc.. makes a nice little stock.

Top with plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, green onions, and bacon

I suppose I should have clarified in the OP

Want to give it a cuban style to go along with some leftover pulled pork

make refried beans


cook some bacon in a cast iron.




add some minced garlic and onions to the cast iron brown



add pepper (canned beans are plenty salty)

add the beans


start to mash and fold over


pic provided by a great Mexican ladies blog

https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/

quote:

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Want to give it a cuban style to go along with some leftover pulled pork

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Sofrito and some spice.

I second browning half an onion

Too late now, but . . .

Sautee onions, peppers and garlic, season w/ red, black and white peppers (no salt). When somewhat softened, add can of black beans. Add a half small packet of Goya Sazon, a splash of apple cider vinegar and maybe half cup of hot water. Continue heating until everything starts to "cook down" a bit.

Excellent. More onion the better