Andrea’s Red Rice and Beans

I’ve been making this dish for about eight years. This little creation was my attempt to eat healthy on a budget. It’s a take-off on hispanic beans and rice using some Sazon Goya, black beans, garbanzos, yellow corn, and tomatoes. It makes a good sized batch, and you can freeze it in small containers to pull out for easy lunches to take to the office.

If you eat rice regularly and have not been introduced to the wonders of rice cookers, I highly recommend trying it. You can get a decent model for under $40 and they run like a charm. I got hooked on rice cooked this way while living in Saipan, but inexpensive rice cookers were simply not available on the island in the late 80s, and I couldn’t justify shelling out a couple hundred dollars for one of the beautiful Zojirushi models at Joeten or the Korean grocery store in Chalan Piao. So I waited several years and two countries before finally buying a rice cooker for about $75 in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. I’ve never been without one since.

Equipment

rice cooker
6 quart pot
sharp knife

Ingredients

3 cups long grain white rice
2 envelopes Sazon Goya con culantro y achiote
3 tablespoons dried cilantro
water according to manufacturer’s directions

1 onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 lb tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 or 4 grinds fresh black pepper
2 (15.5 oz) cans black beans
1 (15.5 oz) can garbanzo beans, drained
10 oz frozen corn
1/2 bunch cilantro, rough chopped

cilantro leaves for garnish

Preparation

1. Pour uncooked rice into rice cooker. Sprinkle Sazon Goya and dried cilantro on top of rice. Add water according the manufacturer’s directions. Turn the cooker on and let it go to work.

***While the rice is cooking***

2. Saute onions and garlic in 6 quart pot over medium heat, until translucent. Add the tomatoes, salt, and black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes release their juices. Reduce heat and cook on low for about 10 more minutes.

3. Add the black beans (undrained), garbanzo beans (drained), and the corn. Stir well and increase heat to medium. Once it starts to boil, reduce heat and cook covered for about 20 minutes until the beans are tender.

4. Stir in the chopped cilantro and cover again. Allow to cook over low heat for just five minutes.

5. Gradually add rice to the beans and tomato mixture. Scoop in a large spoonful and stir. Continue adding until all the rice is incorporated. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro leaves.

Variations

If tomatoes are out of season and you can’t find any decent ones, you can substitute a 28 oz can of whole peeled tomatoes. The taste of the dish will be slightly different, but still good.

Notes

I’ve tried to verify if this dish is gluten free, but I’m not sure about all the ingredients in the Sazon Goya. If anyone knows, drop me a line.