Black Beans and Rice is one of the best vegetarian dishes you will make in less than 30 minutes. You can serve this rice as a main or side dish or in burritos, enchiladas, rice bowls, etc. Spanish rice with black beans is spicy and nutty, our family's favorite dinner recipe.
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Recipe card
Black Beans & Rice Recipe | Mexican Rice | Spanish Rice
Equipment
- Pot
Ingredients
- 1 can Black beans (or ½ cup dried beans)
- 1 cup Rice (jasmine or basmati)
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil or butter, divided
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 medium Onion , finely chopped
- 5 cloves Garlic , finely chopped
- 1 medium Tomato , chopped
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon Cayenne powder or Red chile powder (optional, vary per your taste)
- 2 to 3 tablespoon Hot sauce , adjust to taste
- 1 Jalapeno , chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup Cilantro or Coriander leaves, chopped
- Salt , to taste
Instructions
How to cook dried black beans? (If using canned beans, ignore this)
- Soak ½ cup of black beans in water for 4 hours or overnight and drain them.1 can Black beans
- Add black beans with 2 cups of water and pressure cook for two whistles in an Indian cooker or pressure cook on HIGH for 20 - 25 minutes in your Instant Pot based on firm or soft texture.
- Let the pressure release naturally. Then, use the black beans in rice. You can use any broth to make curry or soup.
How to cook rice?
- In a pan on medium to low flame, add butter or oil. Add one cup of rice and saute till it develops some color and you get a nutty aroma. I have used jasmine rice.2 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 cup Rice
- Now add 1 ½ cups of water and salt. Bring it to a boil, cover, and simmer it for 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Keep this aside.Salt
How to make black bean rice?
- In another pan, drizzle 1 tablespoon oil. Add the bay leaf, cumin seeds, onion, and garlic cloves and saute till the onion becomes translucent.2 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds, 1 Bay leaf, 1 medium Onion, 5 cloves Garlic
- Now add the tomatoes and cayenne powder and saute till the tomato becomes soft.1 medium Tomato, ¼ to ½ teaspoon Cayenne powder
- Next, add the hot sauce, salt to taste, and jalapeno and mix well.2 to 3 tablespoon Hot sauce, 1 Jalapeno
- Finally, add the cooked rice, black beans, and cilantro and mix until everything is combined and heated through.¼ cup Cilantro
Instant pot Spanish black beans and rice
- Turn on the saute mode of your IP. Add butter, cumin seeds, bay leaf, onion, and garlic, and saute until onion becomes translucent.
- Add the rice and stir for one more minute.
- Add 1 ½ cups water, tomato, sauce, jalapeno, salt to taste and mix well.
- Lock the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 3-4 minutes.
- Let this sit for 8 minutes. Then, release any pressure manually.
- Fluff the rice, add black beans and cilantro, and mix until everything is combined.
- Serve and enjoy.
- (If using brown rice, you may have to cook for 22 minutes).
Notes
- Always taste the sauce and use it as desired.
- Vary the spiciness as desired.
- If you are using canned beans, buy low-sodium ones. Wash and drain before you use.
- Water to rice ratio may vary depending on the rice used. Check the package instructions.
- You can use brown rice instead of white rice.
- Drizzle lemon juice just before serving if desired.
Nutrition
Easy Mexican rice and black beans recipe
This Mexican rice with black beans is one of the popular recipes on our blog and is loved and tried by many of our readers. The dish is so versatile that you can serve it with almost anything. Mexican rice is also called Spanish rice with black beans, red rice, arroz rojo, rice and black beans, etc.
The secret to getting a nutty flavor is to saute the rice in butter or oil for the vegan version till it develops some color and then cook it. You can use canned or dried black beans in the recipe. If using dried ones, soak overnight and then pressure cook or use an instant pot for cooking the black beans before you start making the rice.
We use our favorite Valentina Mexican Hot Sauce Salsa Picante in the recipe. For my family, this rice dish is complete with hot sauce. Use any hot sauce of your choice.
Ingredients
Black beans: Use 1 can of black beans or soak ½ cup of dried ones, pressure cook, and then use in the recipe.
Rice: I love the flavor of jasmine rice and use it to make this Mexican rice. Feel free to use brown rice, but note that the cooking time and amount of water will vary accordingly.
Butter or oil: Use butter or olive oil for a vegan version
Onion and garlic cloves: enhance the flavor of this rice dish
Hot sauce: Gives that extra kick to the dish. We use Valentina Mexican Hot Sauce Salsa Picante. Use any hot sauce of your choice.
Step-by-step instructions
How to cook dried black beans? (If using canned beans, ignore this)
- Soak ½ cup of black beans in water for 4 hours or overnight and drain them.
- Add black beans with 2 cups of water and pressure cook for two whistles in an Indian cooker or pressure cook on HIGH for 20 - 25 minutes in your Instant Pot based on firm or soft texture.
- Let the pressure release naturally. Then, use the black beans in rice. You can use any broth to make curry or soup.
How to cook rice?
- In a pan on medium to low flame, add butter or oil. Add one cup of rice and saute till it develops some color and you get a nutty aroma. I have used jasmine rice.
- Now add 1 ½ cups of water and salt. Bring it to a boil, cover, and simmer it for 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Keep this aside.
How to make black bean rice?
- In another pan, drizzle 1 tablespoon oil. Add the bay leaf, cumin seeds, onion, and garlic cloves and saute till the onion becomes translucent.
- Now add the tomatoes and cayenne powder and saute till the tomato becomes soft.
- Next, add the hot sauce, salt to taste, and jalapeno and mix well.
- Finally, add the cooked rice, black beans, and cilantro and mix until everything is combined and heated through.
Tips
- Always taste the sauce and use it as desired.
- Vary the spiciness as desired.
- If you are using canned beans, buy low-sodium ones. Wash and drain before you use.
- Water to rice ratio may vary depending on the rice used. Check the package instructions.
- You can use brown rice instead of white rice.
Instant pot Spanish black beans and rice
- Turn on the saute mode of your IP. Add butter, cumin seeds, bay leaf, onion, and garlic, and saute until onion becomes translucent.
- Add the rice and stir for one more minute.
- Add 1 ½ cups water, tomato, sauce, jalapeno, salt to taste and mix well.
- Lock the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 3-4 minutes.
- Let this sit for 8 minutes. Then, release any pressure manually.
- Fluff the rice, add black beans and cilantro, and mix until everything is combined.
- Serve and enjoy.
- (If using brown rice, you may have to cook for 22 minutes).
Recipe FAQs
Store this in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for upto three months. You can reheat it in a pan or microwave until heated through just before serving.
Serve it as a side with roasted meat or in burritos, enchiladas, Mexican casserole, rice bowls, etc.
More Mexican Recipes
Did you like this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Note: We originally posted this vegan and gluten-free Mexican black beans rice recipe in Apr 2016. It has now been modified in Dec 2023 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.
Sara Welch
This was such a quick and easy recipe that does not disappoint! Enjoyed this with dinner tonight and it was a hit all around the table; the best side dish, indeed!