I am not a huge fan of rice. As in I do not hate it but I cannot have it everyday for every meal. At least not the same, plain steamed rice!! But my family… fanatic rice lovers, steamed rice lovers… No meal in my home is ever complete without rice.

I often skip rice altogether and do not have to put much thought into how to cook it. But on the odd day that I find myself wanting to eat rice, I like to pair it with veggies and some sort of protein. My pinto beans and vegetables rice flavored with taco seasoning kills two birds with one stone. I get a rice variation I absolutely love and my family eats beans they otherwise cringe at the sight of. It is a win-win. Maybe I should call it my win-win rice…,humm

Oh and a couple more positives, it is a one pot dish that does not really need any accompaniments.

What goes into it

1/2 cup pinto beans, boiled

1/2 cup of rice

1 cup of mixed vegetables (anything goes, here I have used, colored peppers and corn)

1 1/2 tomato, finely diced

1 1/2 tbsp of taco seasoning (I use McCormik’s Perfect Pinch, but you can substitute with whatever brand is available)

Salt to taste

Water to soak and cook the beans and rice

How to go about it

The recipe is simple, but calls for a fair bit of planning and prep.

Soak the pinto beans in water overnight, or for at least 6 – 8 hours. Half an hour before you intend to begin wash and soak 1 cup of rice in about 1 1/2 cup of water. Pressure cook or boil the beans with salt. Cook them till just done, they will cook further with the rice and the vegetables, and you want them to hold shape. Do not throw away the water you cook the beans in. Finely chop all the veggies and the tomatoes and keep aside.

With all the prep done, now to the real cooking bit. In a wide deep pan, toss the rice, beans and corn. Add a cup of water and let it come to a gentle simmer.

At this point the rice has just started to sort of bloom. Add salt and the reserved beans water and cook covered on a medium flame, till the rice are almost done.

Now add the chopped tomatoes, veggies and the seasoning. Check for salt and seasoning, correct if required. Add about 1/2 cup of water and gently stir the mix. Cook covered till done.

Check periodically and add more water if required. Do not stir too much or too vigorously either, just gently with a fork if required. Serve warm, with a dollop of sour cream or thick yoghurt.

Enjoy 🙂