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!