* * * My Words, My World, My Way * * *

Please Write: ALewisPDX@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sweet & Spicy Beans With Tomato Rice

So, this one's a keeper....definitely. Exactly my kind of thing and what I like to stuff into my mouth. You'll want to try it. Make it your own. Be creative, use what you have on hand, dream a little. Like I always say, cooking is an art, not a science! Forget the precise measurements and all of that. Doesn't matter, you can't hurt it.

Pan 1....Tomato Rice: You'll cook as many servings of rice as you need for your group in one pot. I used Minute Brown Rice. I added a little Smart Balance Light to it and 1/2 small can of tomato paste.

Pan 2....: Saute chopped onion, baby carrot pieces, and red pepper pieces in olive oil until slightly tender. Add one can black beans (rinsed), one can garbanzo beans (rinsed), one can diced tomatoes, and about 1/2 cup of whole almonds. Toss in the other 1/2 small can of tomato paste from pan 1 above. I seasoned it up with a wide variety of spices: Chili powder, cayenne powder, garlic powder, fresh cracked black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, brown sugar. I didn't use them, but you could easily have added partially cooked chunks of sweet potato or yam into this....it would be a perfect fit. Other variations may include lentils, other types of beans, or vegetables. Or even dried apricots or other fruit.

Easy! It all comes together very quickly...this is definitely a less than 30 minute meal. Place a small bit of tomato rice in a bowl and top with a bit of the spicy bean and tomato mixture. Super yummy. Nice and spicy, warm, and sweet.

8 comments:

Stephen said...

Super, Yummy, Nice, Spicy, Warm, & sweet...those are words are all too often.

Ur-spo said...

I like simple to prepare meals that taste good and are wholesome!

wcs said...

Sounds good... I've already got ideas.

Rick Bettencourt said...

Can you make it for me?

Princessa lil mexico said...

sounds yummy. I need to cook for you!

Anonymous said...

Sounds fantastic, clean, crisp and spring-like. Will have to give it a whirl!

-C

Homer said...

We call this Spanish Rice. I make a fairly bland version for my mother.

annie said...

Super yumi, nice and spicy, warm and sweet? Hey that's me!