Cuban Rice and Beans

Name: Cuban Rice and Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1 cup of rice; 2 cups of water; 1/2 teaspoon of salt; 1 cup of cooked black beans; 1/2 chopped onion; 2 cloves of chopped garlic; 1 chopped ripe tomato; 1 chopped green pepper; 1 chopped red pepper; 2 tablespoons of olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano; Salt and pepper to taste

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50 m

Calories: 170

Easy

2 people

Today, we will be preparing one of Cuba's most emblematic and popular dishes: Cuban Rice and Beans. This dish is a perfect blend of rice, vegetables, and beans, and is an essential part of the daily diet of Cubans.

Cuban Rice and Beans has its roots in the Spanish colonial era, when African slaves introduced beans to the island. Since then, Cubans have perfected this recipe to become the dish we know today.

To prepare Cuban Rice and Beans, it's important to consider some key details. We've left them all at the end of this article so you can perfect it.

Now that you know more about Cuban Rice and Beans, we're sure you'll be eager to try this delicious recipe. Let's head to the kitchen!

Ingredients for Cuban Rice and Beans for 2 people

1 cup of rice
2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of cooked black beans
1/2 chopped onion
2 cloves of chopped garlic
1 chopped ripe tomato
1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped red pepper
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

How to make the recipe Cuban Rice and Beans

In a medium pot, put the rice, water, and salt. And we cook it as we always usually cook it or in our favorite way.
While the rice is cooking, in a pan we heat the olive oil over medium heat. We add the onion, garlic, tomato, green and red peppers. Of course, we must have chopped all of them beforehand. When they are half-cooked we add the beans. Cook approximately 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
We add the cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well.
Once the rice is ready, add it to the vegetable and bean mixture. Cook for a few more minutes, until everything is well mixed and hot.
Serve the Cuban Rice and Beans hot, and voila! Enjoy this delicious Cuban meal.

Notes and Tips

Cook the rice to perfection: Make sure to follow the instructions to cook the rice correctly. It should be soft and slightly sticky.

Use good quality beans: Black beans are the most used in Cuba, but you can also use red beans or pinto beans. Make sure to use good quality beans and precook them so they are soft and don't fall apart in the pan.

Remember the spices: Cumin, oregano, and pepper are essential for flavoring this dish. Make sure to use the appropriate amount of spices and herbs so it has the characteristic flavor of Cuban Rice and Beans.

Cook on medium heat: Cook the rice and the bean and pepper mixture on medium heat to prevent them from burning.

Add some chicken broth or water if it dries out too much: If you notice that the rice and bean mixture is drying out too much, add some chicken broth or water to keep it moist.

Serve hot: Serve the Cuban Rice and Beans hot to enjoy it to the fullest.