Yellow Rice and Black Beans
- Yield: about 4 side dish servings
- Total: 45 min
- Prep: 10 min
- Cook: 35 min
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon ground annatto seed
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice, (preferably not converted)
2 1/2 cups water
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 bay leaf
Serving suggestion: Black Beans recipe follows
Black Beans:
1 1/4 cups black beans (about 1/2 pounds)
12 cups water
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
10 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoons red wine vinegar, plus more for the table
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, with a tight-fitting lid, over medium-high heat. Add the onion, pepper, and annatto, and cook, stirring, until somewhat soft, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 2 minutes more. Add water, salt, and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Wrap the lid tightly with a kitchen towel. Cover the rice, lower the heat to a simmer, cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove the rice from the heat and set aside, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve with the black beans.
Black Beans:
- Put the beans in a large saucepan, add the water and bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Set aside, covered, for 1 hour.
- Return the beans to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, cook uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.
- Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and peppers and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the onion mixture to the beans and continue simmering until the beans are very tender and the liquid has thickened, about 1 1/2 hours more.
- If the beans seem too thick, adjust the consistency with a little bit of water. Stir in the vinegar, season with the salt, cayenne, and pepper to taste. Serve.
- Yield: about 4 side dish servings