California Rice and Beans — Meatless Monday
A Southern classic made with red or black beans and white or yellow rice, rice and beans traditionally includes the salty, smoky flavor a ham hock — or other pork product — and few, if any vegetables. Food Network Magazine puts a lighter twist on this Creole classic by skipping the meat and relying on plenty of roasted vegetables to beef up its rice bowl-like dish, California Rice and Beans (pictured above).
Get the Recipe: California Rice and Beans
This weeknight-friendly recipe can be ready to eat in only 35 minutes, and thanks to a substitution of brown rice, is a light but satisfying supper. To start roasting earthy mushrooms, bell peppers and zucchini with walnuts for a crunchy bite, then make a puree of cannellini beans, fragrant parsley and lemon juice.
The citrus will brighten the overall taste of the dish, smoothing out the bean mixture while adding a refreshing tang to the vegetables when mixed together. While Food Network Magazine opts for frozen rice, you can prepare a batch on the spot using the stove or a rice cooker. To serve, top the rice with the sweet, tender roasted veggies and creamy puree, and finish with sprouts.
Meatless Monday, an international movement, encourages people everywhere to cut meat one day a week for personal and planetary health. Browse more meat-free recipes.
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