Cheap Eats, part 3

Beans and rice or rice and beans. Staples of much of the latin americas and the southern US. Also a staple of many vegetarian and college students diets. Why? Because together they create a complete protein. And they are really cheap. Each culture has it's own variation (type or rice or type of bean), but this is my take on beans and rice.

Black Beans and Brown Rice

1c. brown rice 

Prepare according to package, it will take nearly an hour to cook. You can use white or yellow rice but it is not as complete of a protein (and doesn't taste as good - IMO). If you're in a hurry you can substitute barley which cooks much quicker. I don't know if it still makes a complete protein but it contains all eight essential amino acids (can't be synthesized).

2+ T. olive oil

5 large cloves of garlic, diced

2 small onions, sliced

2 red chilies, seeded and diced

1 can diced tomatoes (~14 oz.)

4 c. cooked black beans* (or substitute 2 cans of beans, ~14 oz. each), rinsed

1/2 red pepper, chopped

salt + pepper to taste

chili sauce (as condiment) - I use sriracha

Warm oil in pan then add garlic and onions. Cook until onions start to become transparent. Add diced chilies and cook for 30-60 seconds. Pour in can of tomatoes and add cooked black beans. Flavor with salt and pepper. When heated through add chopped red pepper. Cook for another couple of minutes and then serve with brown rice and chili sauce. Keeps well in the fridge and reheats great.  Yield: ~4 servings

*I really prefer to soak and cook my own beans if I have the foresight. Fortunately soaked and cooked beans can be kept in the freezer and I rarely use a whole bag in any recipe (Although I usually go ahead and soak and cook that bag). They may loose some of their shape in this process so it may not be appropriate for all dishes. To 'quick soak', boil beans in soaking water for 5 minutes. Then allow to rest for 3+ hours. After this time you can begin cooking them. Some dried beans cook rather quickly, but black beans take up to 90 minutes. Also dried beans don't keep forever (who knew?!), if they are too old they will never become soft again so don't stock up for the apocalypse.