Category Archives: Zuzu

Jamaican Red Beans and Rice

Coconut milk, thyme, scallions and scotch bonnet peppers give this rice dish an island flair! The perfect side dish for chicken, or enjoy this as a meatless main dish with a simple avocado and tomato salad on the side. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free!

Rice and beans are a staple in most Latin and Caribbean countries because they are inexpensive and nutritious. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates.

The rice is not spicy since the pepper is cooked whole for added flavor and is discarded before it’s finished. Of course, if you want a spicy rice dish, you could chop the scotch bonnet and add it to the rice, but be warned, it will be hot!

You can easily make half the recipe for less servings, but sometimes using a half a can of coconut milk could be such a waste, so I find it easier to make more and save the rest for leftovers.

Jamaican Red Beans and Rice
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 10 • Serving Size: 3/4 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 192.4 • Fat: 3 g • Protein: 4.9 g • Carb: 35.4 g • Fiber: 2.6 g • Sugar: 0.7 g
Sodium: 133.4 mg (without salt)

Ingredients:

1 tsp coconut oil (or canola)
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 cup onion, minced
1 scallion, chopped
1 sprig fresh thyme
15.5 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups uncooked long grain rice
salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 1/4 cups water
13.5 oz can (1 3/4 cups) light coconut milk
1 whole scotch bonnet hot pepper (not chopped)

Directions:

In a medium heavy saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; add garlic, scallion, onion and thyme. Sauté a few minutes, then add rice, beans and stir.
Add the coconut milk, water, salt and fresh pepper and place the whole scotch bonnet pepper in the pot, stir to combine and bring to a boil.

Remove and discard the hot pepper and continue to cook the rice until almost all the liquid is absorbed and just skims the top.

Cover; reduce heat to low; simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and keep covered for 10 additional minutes to allow the steam to finish cooking the rice (do not be tempted to lift the lid before that). Serve hot.

Makes 7 1/2 cups.

Latin Beef Stew (Carne Guisada)

Chunks of beef are simmered in beer with scallions, garlic, tomatoes, cumin and cilantro. Sometimes I make it with just the meat, sometimes I add yucca or potatoes. Serve this over rice with a little aji picante and you’ll have a delicious comfort dish, Latin style!

I get lots of emails telling me how much you all love my Latin dishes. It’s probably what I do best. When I crave beef stew, it’s always this Colombian version I crave. You can use water in place of beer if you prefer. If achiote or sazon isn’t something you can find near you, leave it out, it will still be good!

This is a great recipe for those of you who own a pressure cooker. The meat comes out so tender in half the time. I’ve included directions for those of you who own a pressure cooker. I’ve never made this in my crock pot, but I’m sure it would be great too, I may experiment with it next time I make it, I would probably add less liquid.

Latin Beef Stew (Carne Guisada)
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 5 • Size: about 1 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 192.9 • Fat: 5.3 g • Carbs: 11.5 • Fiber: 1.6 • Protein: 23.2 g • Sugar: 1.1
Sodium: 255.5 mg

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil
1 cup scallions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 small tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp cilantro, minced
1.5 lb choice round beef stew, cut into small chunks
1/3 cup light beer
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp adobo (or salt)
1/2 tsp achiote (or sazon)
1 bay leaf
salt to taste
10 oz baby red potatoes, halved or quartered

Directions:

In a large dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add scallions and garlic and sauté about 2 – 3 minutes; add tomatoes, cilantro and a pinch of salt. Cook another 2 minutes, stirring.
Add beef to the pot along with beer, water, cumin, adobo, achiote, bay leaf and salt if needed. Cover and simmer on low heat 1 1/2 hours. Test to make sure beef is tender, if not cook another 15 minutes.

Add potatoes and cook until soft, about 20 minutes depending on the size.

For pressure cooker instructions:

In a large pressure cooker, heat oil over medium heat. Add scallions and garlic and sauté.
Add tomatoes, cilantro and a pinch of salt. Cook another 2 minutes, stirring, about 2 – 3 minutes;

Add beef to the pot along with beer, water, cumin, adobo, achiote, bay leaf and salt if needed. Cover pressure cooker; when the lid is locked, reduce heat to low and cook 25 minutes. When the 25 minutes are up, shut stove off. When the pressure from the pot is released, remove the lid, and place the pot uncovered over medium heat. Bring to a boil, add potatoes and cook uncovered until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes depending on the size.

Makes about 5 cups. Perfect served over 3/4 cup cooked rice.