Spanish Rice and Beans Recipe (Mexican Rice)

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Easy Spanish rice and beans recipe, a flavorful and healthy one-pot dish ready in no time. A great recipe for the whole family, something that you can serve as a main or side dish.

white dutch oven full of spanish rice and beans seen from above

We have the Spanish rice and beans as the main dish most of the time… Rice as a side dish is mostly plain or an even simpler recipe like the Jollof rice or the BBQ rice.

This Spanish, or better said, Mexican rice dish also includes vegetables like peppers and olives, thus becoming more substantial. A nice salad on the side, and there you have it: a perfect, easy to make, tasty weeknight dinner. Not to mention a super healthy one.

Why will you love this recipe?

Quick and easy: Chopping is kept to a minimum and the cooking time is short, about half an hour.
Economical: All the ingredients are super cheap.
Pantry ingredients: I never have to go shopping to make Spanish rice and beans; I have everything I need in the pantry; you will not even require anything from the fridge.
Healthy: The dish is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and a great source of complete proteins.

Rice and beans combination

This combo is a staple in the cuisines of many African, Central or South American countries, Caribbean, China, India, Middle East, and so on. Over the years, I’ve had many versions of it, for instance, Jamaican Rice and Peas or Puerto Rican rice Gallo Pinto.

Not to forget the delicious Rice and Beans Soup or my newest discovery, a Haitian soup with black beans and coconut milk.

Combining these two simple ingredients has a lot of health benefits compared to eating any of the two on their own. The combination of different plant proteins provides us with all essential amino acids.

Recipe ingredients

Rice:

Usually long-grain.
For an even quicker version of this Spanish rice recipe, use basmati or Jasmine; it cooks much faster and has a wonderful flavor.
You can also use brown rice. I do it often; I love its nutty flavor and the heartier structure. However, keep in mind that it takes about 30-40 minutes to cook. And you will need to increase the amount of broth as well.

Beans:

Either red kidney beans or pinto beans.
I had pinto beans this time, but usually, I would choose kidney beans because they are cheaper and more available here.

Vegetables:

Onions, garlic, green onions, red bell peppers, and green olives.
My green olives were pitted and filled with red peppers. Use whatever you like.
If you don’t have a red, use a yellow or green pepper.

Tomatoes or salsa:

The best, tastiest, purest option is to use pureed tomatoes. The use of good broth and all the other spices adds more than enough flavor without relying on anything else.
Alternatively, use your favorite salsa from a jar or the same amount of your favorite tomato sauce brand.

Spices:

Oregano, sweet and smoked paprika, ground coriander and cumin, and fresh cilantro to sprinkle on top of the finished dish.

Other ingredients: a little bit of oil, tomato paste, vegetable broth (or chicken broth if you don’t want to keep it vegetarian), fine sea salt or Kosher, and black pepper.

Step-by-step instructions

Chop vegetables (1). Keep all the vegetables separated.

chopped onions, peppers, green onions and olives on a wooden board.

Saute: Heat a large, shallow Dutch oven or another heavy-bottomed pot. Sautee the chopped onion in olive oil on medium heat, often stirring, until slightly yellow. (2)
Toast the uncooked rice for about 2 minutes. (3)

collage of two pictures of cooking onions and toasting rice in a white pot.

Add garlic, tomato paste, chopped vegetables (except the greens of the onions and the olives), and spices. (4)
Pour the broth and pureed tomatoes. Stir well.
Cook covered for about 15 minutes (5).

collage of two pictures of mixing rice with vegetables and adding broth in a pot.

Add red beans, greens of onions, and olives. Stir well. (6)
Let the rice cook until tender, about 5 more minutes. (7)
Adjust the taste, sprinkle with herbs and serve.

collage of two pictures of stirring beans into rice and cooking it to the end.

Expert tips

If you have access to good quality salsa, you can use that instead of pureed tomatoes.

However, if you live in Europe and only get the standard barbeque bottled salsa, better leave it. In my humble opinion, that has absolutely nothing to do with authentic salsa. It is just a sauce to serve with your grilled steak in summer, which covers the taste of everything else you have on your plate.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use brown rice?

Yes, it will taste great, nuttier, and chewier. However, it needs a bit more liquid, and it has a longer cooking time, about 40 minutes, make sure to check.

How to add some heat?

Add finely chopped jalapenos or some cayenne pepper. Use both to taste.

What to do with leftovers?

Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
The dish is suitable for meal prep; divide the Spanish rice into portions and refrigerate it in airtight containers.

How to reheat?

Stovetop: In a non-stick pan, add a splash of vegetable broth and reheat gently until the food is piping hot. Stir often.
Microwave, covered, for 2 minutes. Stir and check. If it’s not hot, allow another minute.

How to serve?

My first option: as it is. Serve this flavorful Spanish rice and beans recipe with a salad with yogurt dressing or vinaigrette on the side. Try it with tomato avocado salsa or Fiesta Corn Salad.
You could use it to make burritos, tacos, or enchiladas.
Or serve it as a tasty side dish for cast-iron chicken breast, chicken thighs, or pork tenderloin.

More rice dishes

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