whats your recipe for beans and rice?

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I kind of make it up as I go but here is what I aim for:

puree a medium onion and a red bell pepper

saute those for a bit until most of the liquid is gone

add in diced ham (about 1/2 a cup) I use ham off the bone lunch meat and chop it so small my ds who won't eat meat can't tell what it is

then add a big can of red kidney beans and a regular can of any other bean

finally add cooked rice (white or brown) usually 5-6 cups of cooked rice

This makes a huge batch which I divide into containers and freeze. My dd likes to take it for lunch and it takes just 2min in the microwave to defrost and warm.

[Anonymous]

I make this quick vegetarian adaptation of "Cuban" beans and rice (adapted from the time we lived in Miami). Great with sliced avocados and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Also great with steak and chimicurri sauce (for meat-eaters).

Recipe:

1 yellow onion, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons cumin

2 cans black beans (you can drain, but if you do, you need to add water)

2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Sea salt and pepper

Hot cooked rice

Over medium-high heat, saute onions in olive oil until soft and translucent; add crushed garlic and saute for 1 minute; add cumin and saute for 1 minute.

Dump two cans of black beans, tomato paste, basil, and vingear into onion mixture; stir until bubbling.

Reduce heat to simmer for 15 minutes. (Tastes even better the next day.)
Add water if it gets too dry. It should have a stew-like texture.

Season to taste.
Spoon over hot rice.

[Anonymous]

Thank you-they both sound great can't wait to try!
OP

[Anonymous]

OP, the NYT published a great Cuban black beans recipe a few months back. You can skip or cut down the non-veg ingredients (like the time-consuming ham hock - although it's tasty!) and it's still great. Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07food-t-001.html

Whole Foods also did a red beans with (or w/o) sausage recipe a while back that's pretty good. They suggest chorizo for the sausage, but andouille works better IMO. Whole Foods's website will likely have a link.

[Anonymous]

Joy of Cooking has a good recipe. I use chicken broth instead of water if i have it. And add no salt. And I don't put in as much onions as it says because my kids don't like that.

[Anonymous]

If you want black beans, I follow the recipe on the Goya black bean can, except I halve the "Sazon" seasoning and the water. It's delicious!