Brazilian Rice and Beans Recipe
Rice and beans in Brazil are not just a staple; they are a cultural cornerstone, representing the heart and soul of Brazilian cuisine, providing sustenance, tradition, and a shared identity for millions
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Stove-top Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot
- Sieve Used for rinsing the rice and beans under running water.
- large bowl for soaking the beans
- Frying Pan or Skillet Necessary for sautéing onions and garlic to add flavor to the beans.
Ingredients
Brazilian Rice Ingredients:
- 2 cup of basmati rice rinsed
- 3 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 tbsp of grated or finely diced onions optional
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- Salt to taste 1 tsp per cup of dry rice
- 1 + 1/4 cups of boiling water***** see notes
Black Beans Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups of dry black beans
- 4.5 cups water
- 1 small onion
- 1/2 garlic head
- 2 large bay leaves
- Green onion and Parsley to taste
- Sazon for beans or Sazon replacement ( 1 tsp of garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp coriander, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tbsp tomato sauce
Instructions
Brazilian Beans Directions Part 1:
- Sort your beans carefully, throw away any stones or beans that do not look good,
- Place the beans in a sieve or colander and rinse under running water.
- Transfer the grains to a large bowl and cover them with cold water - discard any beans that float.
- Let the beans soak for +-12 hours.
- Change the water once during this period - soaking reduces the cooking time and eliminates substances that make the beans hard to digest.
Brazilian Beans Part 2:
- Discard the soaking water.
- Transfer the beans to the pressure cooker/instant pot, cover with water, and add the bay leaves.
- Close the cooker and heat on high pressure for 10 minutes. (if your beans are fresh, if they are older, say closer to a year old, then pressure cook it for 25 min)
- Then let the pressure release naturally for at least 5 minutes, before you manually release the pressure, so it doesn't splatter all over your kitchen.
While the beans are cooking:
- Peel and finely chop the onion and mince garlic.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, drizzle with olive oil, add the onion, and season with a pinch of salt.
- Sauté for about 3 minutes until softened, add the garlic, and stir for an additional 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add 2 ladles of the cooked beans to your skillet, mix, and mash the beans with the spatula - this puree helps thicken your beans. Add you sazon or sazon replacement seasonings.
- Transfer the sautéed mixture with mashed beans to the pot with the cooked beans.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, mix, and let it cook, uncovered, for another 10 minutes or until the broth thickens - the time may vary depending on the desired consistency, whether thinner or creamier. (If using and instant pot you can use the saute function for this)
- Add parsley and green onions if using
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Remove bay leaf
- Turn off the heat and serve.
Brazilian Rice Instructions
- Heat up the oil in a medium saucepan.
- Sautee the onions (if using) for about 2 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and sautee for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add rice, season with salt, and stir for about a minute.
- Pour in boiling water, reduce to a simmer, cover, and let it simmer until water is absorbed.
- When done, turn off the heat, and let it sit covered for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve!
Nutrition
Calories: 476kcal
