Black Beans and Rice

My ongoing challenge to eat less meat and more lean protein continues.  I made baked creamy chicken taquitos for my family and as a side dish, I served black beans and rice.  (Check out that recipe on yesterday's blog.  It was a good one.)  While my family feasted on chicken taquitos, I enjoyed a delicious black bean and rice burrito.  (Side dish made into main dish = happy cook.)   

I had never made black beans and rice before but I ordered it at a restaurant and it was pretty tasty.  I wasn't looking to replicate the restaurant recipe - I was aiming for a healthier and even tastier version.  I turned to the internet for some black beans and rice inspiration.  I didn't find exactly what I was looking for so I came up with my own recipe.

Black Beans and Rice
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup rice (white or brown)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

 Drain and rinse beans.

Cook rice according to directions.

​ Chop onion

Mince garlic. 

Heat oil in skillet.  Add onions and garlic and saute until tender.

Stir in rice and seasonings.

Stir in beans and warm through.

​You could definitely spice this up even more by adding some cayenne.  I wanted to keep mine kid friendly so I left out the cayenne completely.  I rolled some of this yummy mixture up in a flour tortilla and ate it as a burrito.  (YUMMY!)  Everyone else ate it as a side dish.  Either way - super Yum!

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe