Easy Peasy Rice and Beans

There are some days when I am in the mood to make something extra fancy. This was not one of those days. Now don't get me wrong, I love cooking delicious, extravagant meals.... but sometimes you just have to keep it simple. Simple but flavorful. In my book, there is nothing worse than an overly bland meal. So I promise you. You will never, and I mean never, find a single bland recipe on my blog. That is the beauty of spices, my friend. Stick with me, and I will show you my secrets.

Now I am sure you are all secretly thinking, ok, Katherine. We've all had rice and beans. How is this so special? Honestly, this will not be much different than your typical rice and bean dish. However, what will set this apart are the spices.

Spices can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. We've all been there. Made a beautiful curry only to find out that we put way too much curry powder in it. Adding spices is like a balancing act. One step too wide, or one pinch too much, and you've fallen off the high wire. Luckily, with practice we can get better and better. And maybe one day we will even be able to walk across that high wire blindfolded.

Here are my tips and tricks for adding flavor to dishes:

1. Start small. I'm sure you've heard this over and over again.... you can always add more. Especially when you are just starting out, try not to be too overzealous. A little goes a long way in the world of spices, and the last thing you want to do is make a dish so overpowering that you can't taste the natural flavors. When in doubt, start with a pinch and go from there.

2. Get creative. Don't be afraid to experiment with combinations you would never think to put together. You never know what you may discover. Some of my best spice combinations have come from things I would have never dreamed to put together.

3. Add fresh herbs to your produce. This is something that I discovered by accident. We had received a bunch of green beans and fresh rosemary sprigs from a friend and forgot to separate them before putting in the fridge. When I went to use the green beans a few days later not only did they smell incredible, they also tasted amazing when cooked.

4. Add spices to a small batch of your meal first. This isn't possible with every meal, but always worth a try! Take a small portion of your dish (1/4 cup or less) and add the spices you are interested in using. You can adjust the ratios of spices here without worrying about ruining your entire dish. Keep a piece of paper accessible to jot down the specs. Just remember to increase the amounts when you add the spices to your entire dish!

5. Do your research. There is nothing wrong with using recipes and doing a bit of research. If you are in need of a bit of inspiration, the world wide web will be your best resource. After experimenting with different recipes and ideas you will start to get the hang of it!

Easy Peasy Rice & Beans

~ Serves 6~ 

Ingredients: 

~ 1/2 onion, diced

~ 1 clove garlic, minced

~ 1 tsp olive oil
~ 1 tablespoon cumin
~ 1 tablespoon turmeric
~ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
~ 1 teaspoon cardamom

~ 1 cup brown rice (I used a sprouted rice/quinoa blend)
~ 2 cups water
~ 1 cup (or can) black beans*, cooked
~ 1 cup (or can) kidney beans*, cooked
~ 1 bell pepper, diced
~ 2 cups green beans, diced

Directions:

1. Over medium heat, saute onion and garlic (in 1 tsp olive oil) until tender and translucent.
2. In a small bowl, combine turmeric, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom. You can play with the ratios until you get the fragrance/ taste you enjoy.
3. Add in the spices to the onion and garlic.
4. Saute for an additional few minutes until the flavors combine.
5. Add in the rice and cook for another 5 minutes.
6. Add in the water & bring to a boil.
7. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 45 minutes, or until rice is tender.
8. While rice is cooking, heat black and kidney beans over medium heat until warm. Add in a pinch (1 tsp) of cumin to the beans.
9. In a separate saute pan, heat a small amount of olive oil over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and green beans. Season with salt and pepper and saute until tender.
10. Once rice is cooked, add in beans and veggies. Mix until combined.
11. Serve while warm. Enjoy!