Skip to main content

Red Beans and Dirty Rice

Dirty rice is a fast and simple vegetarian meal to prepare; you don't even have to drain the beans. I used a red parboiled Indian (Matta) rice, but you could use whatever rice you like.  If it is not parboiled or whole grain, it may just be a bit softer - Hint: to avoid this, just toast the rice a bit in the oil before adding the water, and the grains should stand more separately after cooking. I served with a cool tomatoes-and-yogurt garnish to the hot steaming rice, along with a crisp salad.



1/2 cup onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 jalapeño pepper, minced

dash crushed red pepper flakes to taste

1 cup par boiled rice (I used Indian Matta Red Rice)

1-1/2 cups water or broth

1 can red beans, undrained

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder

1/4 tsp salt


Sauté the onion, carrot and jalapeño in a dash of olive oil in a medium pot. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the veggies soften and become aromatic.  Add the crushed red pepper flakes and cook another 2 minutes. 

Add the rice and stir to coat with oil, and heat through.  Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a gentle boil.  Stir and reduce heat to a gentle simmer.  Cook covered for about 15-20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed.  Remove from heat and let stand another 10 minutes.


Fluff with a fork.

Serve with yogurt, if desired.



Cook’s Note:  I served the rice with a relish of sliced grape tomatoes tossed with yogurt, crushed red pepper flakes and dill.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat...

Vinaigrette Erique 2.0

From the archives:  Making a really, really good vinaigrette has been a craft in my family, and in my in-law family for generations. My late uncle, Jeannot, and Father-in-law, Bernard, (both best of friends) were each geniuses at the vinaigrette. And they both taught me. I have to say my siblings along with my sisters and brothers in-law do really now carry on the tradition as I strive to as well.  In our family cookbook "Cuisine Encore" I published my go-to vinaigrette - a basic version taught to me by my French mother, Monique.  It's great, yet I have been looking for something slightly more modern and upbeat.  So I merged Asian rice vinegar into the mix along with fresh (not powdered) garlic with the Dijon mustard, and toned down the salt. Make it your own. I now have what I think is an even better basic vinaigrette, today. Talk to you tomorrow! 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar 1 generous tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup ca...

Baked Grouper with Mushroom Wine Sauce

Fresh fish baked in a creamy mushroom sauce is always a rich reward after a hard day's work. 3/4 lb grouper (or other favorite white fish) cut into 2 portions Sauce: 2 Tbsp butter 1/2 cup onion, very finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced through a press 1/3 cup pale dry sherry or dry white wine 1/3 cup half and half or cream 1 Tbsp corn starch 1 4-oz can mushrooms, drained and liquid reserved Preheat oven to 375F.  Sauté the onions in the butter, in a sauce pan for about 8-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized.  Add the garlic and cook for about 2 more minutes.  Add the sherry and half and half, and bring to a gentle boil. Whisk together the mushroom liquid with the cornstarch in a small bowl.  Whisk this mixture into the boiling sauce until thickened.  Add mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste.   Adjust thickness with wine, water or chicken broth if necessary, or allow sauce to thicken more by reducing slightly. Lay...