Once upon a time there was a young wife who accidentally spent all of their grocery money and had to feed their family from food they already had. She decided to make burritos using some black beans and fresh ground beef she had already browned and stored in the freezer.
The goal was to make her own tortillas. Then she ran out of flour and had to think of something else to make with the burrito filling. Her stomach was growling, and she wanted to finish this meal soon.
So she cooked up some rice, cringing because she had tried making beans and rice in the past and it always turned out awful.
She wasn’t used to her food turning out awful. And this had truly been awful.
Her first few attempts at beans and rice had been prompted by Dave Ramsey’s meal plan suggestion to families working to get out of debt – “Beans and rice, rice and beans.”
The idea was to just cut back on your food costs and eat simple and inexpensively. But how many people actually serve up beans and rice?
Well, she would. And this time it was actually going to taste delicious.
And it did.
Better Beans & Rice
Serves 2 (measurements are approximate. Adjust to suit your tastes)
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 – 1 T. Olive oil (or butter)
- 1/4 C. Diced onion
- 2 C. Cooked black beans (I cook big batches of dried beans and freeze them)
- 1 C. Cooked brown whole grain rice
- 1/2 C. Salsa
- 1/2 – 1 t. Chili powder
- 1/4 t. Ground cumin
- Pinch of Crushed chili peppers
- 1/2 t. Garlic powder or 1 clove of garlic
- 1 t. Salt
- 1 C. Browned ground beef (optional – I bought it marked down for just over $1/lb.)
- 1-2 Fresh chopped tomatoes
- Sour cream
DIRECTIONS
- In large frying pan, sauté onion (and garlic if using a clove instead of powder) in olive oil until translucent and brown on the edges
- Add the next 9 ingredients to the frying pan, stirring well and cooking on med-low until heated and the flavors are thoroughly blended, about 10-15 minutes
- Serve in bowls and garnish with fresh tomatoes and sour cream
Variations of Better Beans & Rice
If I had these ingredients already in my fridge and cupboards, I could’ve used these variations:
Better Beans & Rice Salad
Serve beans and rice on a bed of lettuce and garnish with any or all of the following: shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, salsa, diced fresh tomatoes, sour cream, chopped peppers, cilantro, and avocado slices.
Better Beans & Rice Burritos
Wrap warm beans and rice (and shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese if you like) in homemade whole grain tortillas. place side by side in casserole dish and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Heat in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until cheese is melted. Serve with any of the toppings used for Better Beans & Rice Salad.
If it wasn’t for running out of grocery money, this young wife may not have tried beans and rice again. So thankful I did, because this stuff was delicious!
That’s what’s on my plate. What’s on yours? Go share it at Good Cheap Eats today. Meanwhile, have you ever tried any beans & rice recipes that you really like? Tell us about it and let’s swap some recipes!
8 comments
5 pings
Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs
08/11/2010 at 3:26 PM (UTC -6)
YUM! I’ve rediscovered Beans and Rice, Rice and Beans, too! And, FINALLY my boys don’t mind so much. I sorta came up with my own recipe one night while tossing leftovers together. Pinto beans + rice + Jamaican Jerk seasoning (I used Pampered Chef) + a little bit of butter. It is SO satisfying and my youngest loves it! I need more rice and beans recipes, so thank you!!
Steph
08/11/2010 at 5:15 PM (UTC -6)
Yay! Sounds fantastic. We should do a rice and beans series… interested in contributing?
MEK
08/11/2010 at 5:50 PM (UTC -6)
Oh please do a series! I really want some good rice and beans dishes!
Lee Ann
08/12/2010 at 7:24 AM (UTC -6)
Steph-
, so I make something similar, using whatever I happen to have at the time. There are def lots of variations to be had – mine usually include rice, black beans, sometimes thinly sliced steak, and fresh tomatoes, spinach, avocado, sour cream and cheese! Love that this meal can stretch a steak – instead of having to make 2 (one for each of us), we can use even just half of one for the both of us. Recipes like this allow me to buy good beef: free-range, grass fed, and antibiotic free. 
This sort of dish is one of Chad’s favorites! I LOVE Chipotle’s burrito bowls (cause they’re less messy – and I hate being messy!
Steph
08/12/2010 at 8:32 AM (UTC -6)
Lee Ann – Sounds Fantastic! Would you be interestd in sharing some of your favorite variations in a future post?
Pops
08/12/2010 at 6:29 PM (UTC -6)
Great stories about running out of grocery money, and this follow-up. Your pics make the food look so good, even though I am not a big rice fan (or beans for the matter).
But maybe I’ll eat it next time I am down your way.
Steph
08/16/2010 at 12:58 PM (UTC -6)
What a compliment, Papa
I’ll plan to serve it up when you guys visit next…
FishMama
08/17/2010 at 7:01 AM (UTC -6)
Great job! We have had seasons of living on this. The sour cream helps.
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