7 Layer Bean Dip: New Life for Refried Beans

"7 Layer Bean Dip"
Simply Recipes (January 20, 2008)

"Refried beans should not be eaten cold.

"There, I've said it. I don't usually put my foot down about food preferences, but cold refried beans are about as appealing as a cold hamburger. This is why I make 7-layer dip starting with a layer of hot refried beans. Shredded cheese is added directly to the top of the beans so it melts from the heat of the beans. Then the layers of tomato, avocado, olives, and chilies, onions (mostly room temp) are added. The only cold part of the dip is the topping of sour cream (or crema Mexicana). Served this way and the taste delightfully mimics tostadas or homemade nachos, but in an easy-to-serve dip form...."

I don't know about that: a cold hamburger can taste pretty good, if you're hungry enough.

I'm no gourmet cook, but this looks like a pretty good recipe for a bean dip. Hot refried beans and all.

A tip of the hat and applause, for a point that's often missed in recipes:

"...If you are trying to avoid pork, note that most canned refried beans are made with added lard, so check the ingredients. You can use olive oil instead, to help the consistency of the beans...."

Mine isn't a kosher household, but members of the family have intolerances to a challenging array of substances. So, I appreciate it when an author recognizes that not everybody can eat everything.