If you hate cleaning dishes, then one-pot rice with beans recipe is a good option for you, because you will not have a lot of cleaning to do. This is a classic comfort food that you should be eating often because it is healthy and satisfying. This dish is a common recipe among many communities in Kenya. Mainly prepared during lunch, the recipe can also be done for dinner too. This is also a meal that is quick and easy to make especially during lazy evenings or for a quick lunch or dinner. In most cases, rice and beans are cooked separately but if you want easy quick meal, combine the two in one pot.
Nutritional value of rice with beans
The combination of rice and beans will give you enough protein and fiber for a healthy digestion. For instance, beans are a source of plant based protein that is not high in saturated fat. This kind of protein is good for heart health and for people with heart disease. Beans and rice; especially brown rice are rich in dietary fiber. fiber helps the body regulate sugar absorption thus helping to keep blood sugar and hunger in check. This meal may appear simple but for people on vegan diet and those watching their weight, this is a good dish to make. And you can incorporate your preferred vegetables into this dish – how healthy can that be!
What type of beans to use for one-pot rice with beans?
Different cultures use different beans for this one-pot rice with beans dish. However, the most popular beans used for this recipe are kidney beans and black beans but you can also use other type of beans such as pinto beans and black-eyed peas.
Black beans (Njahi)
Black beans are simply black and have a rich, earthy taste and a soft texture. In Kenya the most popular kind of black bean is natively called Njahi; check out our black bean stew recipe for some ideas on how to cook this bean.
Kidney Beans
Kidney bean is a variety of the common bean which resembles a human kidney thus its name. It come in many varieties; red kidney beans, light speckled kidney beans, white speckled and red speckled kidney beans.
Pinto beans
Pinto beans are smaller and plump compared to kidney beans. Pinto is a Spanish word which means painted. These beans are called pinto due to their reddish-brown spots which makes them look like they are painted. They also come in a number of varieties such as red pinto beans, burke, Othello, Sierra among others.
Black-eyed-peas
Black-eyed peas are actually a variety of beans that pair very well with rice – check our black-eyed pea curry recipe here for some inspiration. These have an earthy, slightly sweet flavor and firm texture.
How to make one-pot rice with bean
To make this easy rice with beans recipe, first you will need to do some soaking either overnight or for a few hours. If you are short of time, soak the beans in hot water for about 30 minutes. Soaking the beans helps to soften them so that they will cook for a shorter period. It also helps to remove lectin; a type of plant protein responsible for excess gas and flatulence associated with eating beans. Here are the ingredients that you will need for this recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (500 g) Kidney beans, boiled
- 2 cups Basmati rice washed and drained – you can also use any other long grain rice.
- 1 large red onion, chopped
- 4 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 teaspoon paprika, ground
- 1 teaspoon pilau masala
- 1 teaspoon coriander, ground
- 1 teaspoon cumin, ground
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 small piece ginger, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, ground
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional)
- parsley, chopped
- 4 cups hot water/vegetable stock
Instructions
- Heat the cooking oil in a large wok or cooking pot (sufuria) over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent before adding the minced garlic and ginger. Sautéing for about 2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the spices, salt and pepper, adjusting the flavors as desired. Simmer to infuse the flavors into the mixture, about 3 minutes.
- Toss in the boiled beans, stirring continuously to incorporate them with the rest of the ingredients.
- Drizzle the soy sauce and mix everything together gently. This step is completely optional especially if you don’t like using soy sauce.
- Add the rice and allow to cook for a few minutes before adding hot water/vegetable stock. stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the pot.
- Add the hot water or vegetable stock then cook until the rice is well cooked. Once the rice is well cooked, remove it from the heat.
- Garnish with chopped parsley for an added burst of freshness.
- Serve with your choice of salad.
This dish can be served as a standalone meal or as a delectable side dish. To add more flavor and nutrients, the dish can be served with fried chicken or beef. I prefer serving it as a stand alone dish and my favorite salad on the side. You can also easily experiment with additional ingredients such as tofu, shrimp, chicken or make it hot by adding hot pepper. Trust me, this is a go-to recipe that you would want to try if you have not tried it already. No regrets whatsoever!
One-pot rice with beans
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker optional
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Kidney beans boiled
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- 1 red onion, large, chopped
- 4 tomatoes chopped
- 1 tsp paprika ground
- ½ tsp Pilau Masala ground
- 1 tsp coriander ground
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 piece ginger small, minced
- ½ tsp turmeric ground
- ½ tsp black pepper ground
- cooking oil
- ½ tsp Chili ground
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp soy sauce optional
- fresh parsley chopped
- 4 cups hot water/vegetable stock
Instructions
Step 1:
- Pick the dirt, wash and boil the beans until soft
Step 2:
- Heat the cooking oil in a large wok or cooking pot (sufuria) over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger, Sautéing for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes and cook further, until the tomatoes are well cooked.
- Add the spices, salt and pepper, adjusting the flavors as desired. Simmer to infuse the flavors into the mixture.
- Toss in the boiled beans, stirring continuously to incorporate them with the rest of the ingredients.
- Drizzle the soy sauce and mix everything together gently. This step is optional
Step 3:
- Add the rice and allow to cook for a few minutes before adding hot water/vegetable stock. stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking.
- Add the hot water or vegetable stock then cook until the rice is well cooked. Once the rice is well cooked, remove it from the heat.
- Garnish with chopped parsley for an added burst of freshness.
- Remove and serve with your favorite salad.
