West Indian Red Beans with Coconut Rice (Moosewood)

Coconut Rice Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup white rice
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup coconut milk

Red Beans Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup diced onions
  • 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1/2 small fresh chile pepper, minced
  • salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can of red kidney beans, drained (black beans will work too)
  • Chopped scallions and/or cilantro

Coconut Rice Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain the rice
  2. In a saucepan on medium heat, sauté the rice, turmeric, and salt in the vegetable oil for a minute or two, stirring constantly
  3. Add the water and coconut milk, bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to low
  4. Simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes

Red Beans Instructions

  1. While the rice is cooking, in a saucepan on medium heat, sauté the onions in the vegetable oil for 3 or 4 minutes
  2. Add the red pepper flakes, sprinkle lightly with salt, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, for 5 to 8 minutes
  3. Add the thyme, allspice, tomatoes, and beans, co3ver, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
  4. Serve the red beans on a bed of the rice and top with scallions and/or cilantro

From: Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers / The Today Show.

Green Rice

Ingredients

RICE

  • 1 cup uncooked white rice
  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped white or yellow onion (or sub shallot)
  • 3 cloves garlic, skins removed and minced
  • 1 healthy pinch sea salt

GREEN MIX

  • 1 ¾ cup water (or sub broth of choice for more flavor)
  • 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeds and stems removed and chopped
  • 2 cups cilantro, large stems removed (as recipe is written, about 1 large bundle)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp spirulina (for added color // if you don’t have it, omit))

FOR SERVING optional

  • Cilantro
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Begin by rinsing the white rice in a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear. Set aside.
  2. To a blender add water, pepper, cilantro, sea salt, and spirulina and blend on high for 30 seconds or until completely combined. Set aside.
  3. Heat a large saucepan, dutch oven, or skillet (with a secure lid) over medium heat. Once hot, add avocado oil then onion and garlic and a healthy pinch of sea salt. Sauté until just tender — 3-4 minutes. Then add well-drained rice and begin toasting, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Slowly add the green mix from the blender to the pan and stir to fully combine — it should just cover the rice. Increase heat to high until the mixture reaches a low boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and set a timer for 18 minutes. DO NOT open the lid until the timer goes off. At that point, the rice should be fluffy and the liquid should be absorbed. Turn off the heat, leave the lid on, and let the rice rest for 10 minutes before removing lid so the moisture can redistribute — this will help prevent mushy rice.
  5. Add lime juice or cilantro wedges as a garnish for serving. Rice is best when fresh, but will keep in the refrigerator up to 2-3 days. It is freezer-friendly up to 1 month.

via Minimalist Baker