Spanish rice and beans (Print version)

A flavorful Mexican-inspired dish with brown rice, beans, and spices, ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1/2 medium white or yellow onion, finely diced

→ Rice & Broth

03 - 2 cups long grain brown rice
04 - 3 cups vegetable broth

→ Flavoring

05 - 1 1/2 cups tomato-based salsa
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - Salt to taste

→ Beans

09 - 1 can (15 ounces) black beans or kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Garnish

10 - Fresh chopped cilantro (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Add the brown rice, vegetable broth, salsa, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. Stir thoroughly to combine.
03 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for approximately 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is fully absorbed.
04 - Once the rice is cooked, gently stir in the drained and rinsed beans. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
05 - Remove from heat and let the rice and beans sit, covered, for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Fluff the rice with a fork, sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro if desired, and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can actually make it on a Tuesday without losing your mind.
  • The flavors deepen as it sits, so it's even better the next day for lunch.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free without tasting like a compromise.
02 -
  • Don't lift the lid while it's simmering; every peek lets steam escape and adds minutes to your cooking time for no reason.
  • Brown rice takes longer than white rice, but it's worth it for the flavor and texture that actually holds up to storage and reheating.
03 -
  • Use a salsa you actually enjoy eating, because its flavor is the backbone of this entire dish and there's no point pretending otherwise.
  • Don't skip the resting period; those ten minutes let the rice finish cooking gently with steam and allow the flavors to actually integrate instead of staying separate.
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