This Cuban Rice & Beans Bowl is so easy, healthy and absolutely delicious!!! Perfect meal for any night of the week. Sweet plantains, brown rice, sliced avocado and perfectly seasoned pinto beans.
I truly believe that some of the best dishes are the ones that are the simplest. There aren’t crazy exotic flavors from a kitchen sinks worth of herbs and spices, just fresh, simple ingredients that work so perfectly together… that is this Cuban Rice & Beans Bowl! You get the sweetness from the plantains, the creamy cool avocado, the hearty brown rice and those perfect pinto beans!
I have to say, I have been on a HUGE plantain kick lately! These sweet plantains are perfection… cooked in a bit of grapeseed oil until golden and tender, lightly sprinkles with salt and pepper. I could eat these as is for a snack any time of day. Honestly, each element is so simple but the flavors and textures make for such a great meal. The brown rice is simply that, boiled and drained brown rice. Sliced avocado brightens the dish with its cool creaminess. Those pinto beans are great and I actually make them frequently! This whole meal comes together so quickly!
- 2 ripe plantains, sliced 1/2″ thick on an angle
- about 1 1/2 -2 cups cooked brown rice
- 2 avocado
- 1 can pinto beans, drained
- 1/2 a red bell pepper, medium cut
- 1/2 a small red onion, medium cut
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- a couple pinches of sliced scallion
- grapeseed oil or any light oil
- cilantro and fresh lime {optional}
- Lets start with the beans. In a small sauce pan, heat up about a tbsp of oil and cook the peppers and onion until softened. Add in the beans, water, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and a little salt. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed.
- Cook brown rice according to the package, drain and set aside.
- In a saute pan, over medium heat, add in enough oil to just coat the bottom. Once hot, carefully add in the plantains {in batches} and cook until golden on each side. Sprinkle with salt and pepper once removed.
- Set up your bowl with some brown rice, the pinto beans, sweet plantains and sliced avocado. You can serve with cilantro and a lime wedge if you’d like.
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