Nicaraguan Rice and Beans

photo by James C.

- Ready In:
- 7hrs
- Ingredients:
- 10
- Serves:
-
6
ingredients
- 1 cup gallo pinto beans
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 small onion, peeled
- 1 clove
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- salt
- 1 1⁄2 cups long gain white rice
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- fresh black pepper
directions
- Cover the beans generously in water and soak at least 4 hours.
- Drain the beans and place in a large pot with two quarts of water.
- Pin the bay leaf to the onion with the clove and add to the pot.
- Add beans and garlic.
- Gradually bring beans to a boil, skimming off foam.
- Reduce heat and gently simmer the beans uncovered until tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, adding salt to taste during the last ten minutes.
- Drain the beans and refresh under cold water.
- Discard the onion, bay leaf, and clove.
- In a large heavy saucepan, bring 2.5 cups of water and 1 tsp salt to a boil.
- Add the rice and return to a boil.
- Gently simmer the rice until tender, about 18 minutes.
- Let the rice sit uncovered for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.
- Heat oil in a large, heavy frying pan.
- Add onion and brown well, about 5 minutes.
- Add rice and beans and cook until very aromatic and the rice starts to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Correct the seasonings and serve.
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Reviews
-
Never had beans and rice before and was looking for one that used Pinto beans, since that's what I like... Soaked the beans overnight, and I used a pinch of ground clove since I didn't have whole. To make this a meal I added about half a pound of thin slice smoked sausage when it was time to fry the beans and rice together. Wonderful flavor, with depth from the spices. Nothing was overpowering. I will definitely make this again!
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Made this recipe just because it was something different from my usual rice dish! It takes a bit of preparation, but it definitely took neither 7 hours to cook (even if including the 4 hours or more for the beans to soak) nor an hour to prepare ~ Long enough, just not that long! But, that's not as important as the final dish ~ WONDERFUL! I enjoyed the inclusion of both the bay leaf & the clove ~ Subtle; nice! [Tagged, made & reviewed for one of my adoptees in the current Pick-A-Chef]
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I'm an opera singer and teacher living in Miami, FL. My mom taught me how to cook, and I absolutely love trying new flavors and techniques.