Ingredients

• 500g/1lb 2oz dried black beans or pinto beans
• 1.2 litres/2 pints water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• knob of butter
• 1 medium onion
• chopped
• 250g/9oz smoked streaky bacon
• finely chopped

Directions

• Soak the beans overnight in plenty of water.
• Bring the beans to the boil in 1.2 litres/2 pints of water and boil until tender. Reserve the cooking water.
• In a large frying pan
• heat the oil and butter and sweat the onion until softened.
• Fry the bacon until cooked.
• Mash the beans as fine as you like
• then mix them with the bacon and onion mixture.
• Add some of the reserved cooking water to the beans to give you the same consistency as double cream. Serve.