I know this seems like a simple thing to share for the weekly recipe, but this is a meal that we thoroughly enjoy, and, as I talked about in an earlier post, it’s delicious and dirt cheap. It’s also extremely versatile in regards to seasonings, etc. For this recipe, I’m not going to give you portion amounts so much as I will seasoning tips.
Beans
For the beans, there are a few options: you can use canned ($1.38 for generic large can) or make homemade pinto beans according to directions. Black beans also work well, home-cooked or canned, but we prefer the pinto beans.
Rice
We use a par-boiled rice, but any white or brown rice, prepared, will do. A 25-pound bag of par-boiled rice at our big-box club costs roughly $10.
Seasonings
The choices are endless:
Chili powder
Cumin
Garlic powder (or pressed garlic cloves)
Cilantro
Salt
Pepper
Bacon or Hamburger (increases cost, obviously)
Ancho Chili Powder
Tomatoes
Jalapeno or Habanero peppers
Lime or Lemon
Green pepper
Onion
The list goes on and on. For the fresh stuff like the peppers and the onion, we like to saute’ them before adding.
Then there’s the garnishes:
Sour Cream
Hot Sauce
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Cilantro
Try this simple meal at home and enjoy the flavor and richness of the simple things in life. Let us know, too, if you have any other seasoning tips for simple meals like beans and rice.
You are funny! We had this meal last night. Great minds, huh? (We went with hamburger in the rice, btw….)
LOL, so true. 🙂 My mom makes it with hamburger in the rice – it’s delish!!!
Yum! I love beans and rice 🙂
Me too! So simple, yet so yummy!
I love, love, love beans and rice. I could eat it all day with the right sauce..
LOL, me too. I have to be careful so I don’t overwhelm the kids with too many beans and rice nights. 🙂
Looks yummy to me!
Thanks, Nick!
Thank you for linking to my guacamole recipe Laurie! That looks really good, I mess up with the rice cooking every time, there is no way it comes out well but I keep trying.
I’m not a huge fan of beans, but I sure do like rice. This definitely sounds like a Dave Ramsey meal. 😉
LOL, I think you’re right Jake. Dave would definitely approve :-).
I wasn’t a big fan of beans but with a great recipe and sauce…it can taste great. It is also an excellent sauce of protein.
Totally, Andrew! Protein on the cheap!
Awesome. I’m a huge fan of this dish — though I prefer black to pinto. I think that people really underestimate what adding lime does to this dish 🙂
You want to know a fun coincidence? In my informational interview that I just posted about, I had ordered a side of rice and beans (with a side of fried yucca) in order to keep my half of the costs down :/
LOL, Mario, that is HILARIOUS!!! I know what you’ll always think of now when you order rice and beans the informational interview from hell. 🙂
I just made some black beans and rice last night and some salsa. I don’t usually cook, but I’m on my own this week so I’ve had to find some easy things to make. Both were really easy, and delicious, though I made way too much salsa. Hopefully we can find some use for it before it goes bad!
Matt, grab some chips and have nachos, or mix the salsa with noodles and cheese for some Mexican mac and cheese. 🙂
Sounds great–I need to branch out to different cuisines more.
You should, it’s fun!
Thanks for sharing this. We eat beans and rice quite often and use many of the same spices and lime in the recipe. I’ll have to try your recipe.
Lime is the best in it, isn’t it?
Beans and rice is one of my favorite vegetarian meals!
Me too, Holly. Yum!
I LOVE beans and rice. Seriously I could eat Mexican inspired food every night. Some people think beans and rice are what you eat when you’re broke, but it’s one of my favorite meals. Yum! Off to see if bf has some rice in the cooker…
This looks so good. I don’t have enough bean meals. Another thing to put in the rice is nuts and seeds. My dad did a rice with pistachios, cashews and sunflower seed and it was amazing.
Alexis, that sounds delicious!!! I would’ve not thought about that. What did he season the rice with? Maybe this could be a post for you?