Black Beans & Rice Recipe | Mexican Rice | Spanish Rice - Cook with Kushi (2024)

Black Beans and Rice is one of the best vegetarian dishes you will make in less than 30 minutes. You can serve this rice as a main or side dish or in burritos, enchiladas, rice bowls, etc. Spanish rice with black beans is spicy and nutty, our family's favorite dinner recipe.

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Easy Mexican rice and black beans recipe

This Mexican rice with black beans is one of the popular recipes on our blog and is loved and tried by many of our readers. The dish is so versatile that you can serve it with almost anything. Mexican rice is also called Spanish rice with black beans, red rice, arroz rojo, rice and black beans, etc.

The secret to getting a nutty flavor is to saute the rice in butter or oil for the vegan version till it develops some color and then cook it. You can use canned or dried black beans in the recipe. If using dried ones, soak overnight and then pressure cook or use an instant pot for cooking the black beans before you start making the rice.

We use our favoriteValentina Mexican Hot Sauce Salsa Picantein the recipe. For my family, this rice dish is complete with hot sauce. Use any hot sauce of your choice.

Ingredients

Black beans: Use 1 can of black beans or soak ½ cup of dried ones, pressure cook, and then use in the recipe.

Rice: I love the flavor of jasmine rice and use it to make this Mexican rice. Feel free to use brown rice, but note that the cooking time and amount of water will vary accordingly.

Butter or oil: Use butter or olive oil for a vegan version

Onion and garlic cloves: enhance the flavor of this rice dish

Hot sauce: Gives that extra kick to the dish. We useValentina Mexican Hot Sauce Salsa Picante. Use any hot sauce of your choice.

Step-by-step instructions

How to cook dried black beans? (If using canned beans, ignore this)

• Soak ½ cup of black beans in water for 4 hours or overnight and drain them.
• Add black beans with 2 cups of water and pressure cook for two whistles in an Indian cooker or pressure cook on HIGH for 20 - 25 minutes in your Instant Pot based on firm or soft texture.
• Let the pressure release naturally. Then, use the black beans in rice. You can use any broth to make curry or soup.

How to cook rice?

• In a pan on medium to low flame, add butter or oil. Add one cup of rice and saute till it develops some color and you get a nutty aroma. I have used jasmine rice.
• Now add 1 ½ cups of water and salt. Bring it to a boil, cover, and simmer it for 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Keep this aside.

How to make black bean rice?

• In another pan, drizzle 1 tablespoon oil. Add the bay leaf, cumin seeds, onion, and garlic cloves and saute till the onion becomes translucent.
• Now add the tomatoes and cayenne powder and saute till the tomato becomes soft.
• Next, add the hot sauce, salt to taste, and jalapeno and mix well.
• Finally, add the cooked rice, black beans, and cilantro and mix until everything is combined and heated through.

Tips

• Always taste the sauce and use it as desired.
• Vary the spiciness as desired.
• If you are using canned beans, buy low-sodium ones. Wash and drain before you use.
• Water to rice ratio may vary depending on the rice used. Check the package instructions.
• You can use brown rice instead of white rice.

Instant pot Spanish black beans and rice

• Turn on the saute mode of your IP. Add butter, cumin seeds, bay leaf, onion, and garlic, and saute until onion becomes translucent.
• Add the rice and stir for one more minute.
• Add 1 ½ cups water, tomato, sauce, jalapeno, salt to taste and mix well.
• Lock the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 3-4 minutes.
• Let this sit for 8 minutes. Then, release any pressure manually.
• Fluff the rice, add black beans and cilantro, and mix until everything is combined.
• Serve and enjoy.
• (If using brown rice, you may have to cook for 22 minutes).

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Note: We originally posted this vegan and gluten-free Mexican black beans rice recipe in Apr 2016. It has now been modified in Dec 2023 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.

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