Name: Black Beans and Rice (Arroz Congri)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 small red onion, (diced); half of a green and/or red bell pepper, (diced); 2 cloves of garlic, (minced); 1 tablespoon cilantro, (chopped); 2 tablespoons tomato sauce; 2 cubes of chicken bouillon ((caldo de pollo)); 1 pack of sazón ((culantro y achiote)); 1 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon adobo; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 can black beans, (with liquid); 3 cups water; 3 cups rice, (rinsed)

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This Black Beans and Rice or Arroz Congri is a popular Latin Caribbean dish filled with Latin flavors like garlic, oregano, and cilantro.

Black Beans and Rice or Arroz Congri is a traditional rice dish popular in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Like most Latin Caribbean dishes, there are a lot of similarities and also slight differences in preparation from country to country, and no dish will ever taste exactly the same as another.

This dish is also known as Moro de Habichuelas Negras, Moro Negro and Moros y Cristianos. No matter the name, this recipe is one I’m sure you’re going to love because it is packed with protein, filled with flavor and super quick to make. Serve it with this garlic cilantro chicken skewers or this slow cooker roasted pork shoulder for the perfect meal.

While traditionally the rice takes on the darker color of the beans, my black beans and rice recipe is slightly more red in color because I like to add a little bit of tomato sauce and sazon annatto for added flavor.

How to Make Black Beans and Rice

Cooking this dish is very simple. In a large cast-iron pot, heat about 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. Saute some diced onions, bell peppers, minced garlic, cilantro, tomato sauce, 2 chicken bouillon cubes, sazón, oregano, adobo, and ground black pepper for about 2-3 minutes until vegetables begin to release the aroma.

Add one can of black beans with its liquid plus 3 cups of water. When the water begins to boil, add the rice, stirring occasionally to avoid from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Once the rice has soaked up all the water and begins to dry up, lower the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it cook for 25 minutes. Then, stir the rice carefully to fluff it up. Cover for an additional 5 minutes and then stir again.

How to Store Leftover Black Beans and Rice

This dish makes great leftovers, which makes it a great dish for meal prep too. Store uneaten beans and rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, gently heat over the stovetop or in a microwave. If heating in the microwave, cover the rice with damp paper towel. This will add moisture and ensure that your rice is soft and fluffy after reheating.

Time to get cooking! If you make this or any of my recipes, make sure to share with the hahstag #smartlittlecookieeats. I’d love to see how it turns out. 😉

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