Latin Americans are known for their diverse cuisines that are staples to many cultures and countries in Latin America. Some common ingredients in Latin American cuisines include maize, tacos, tortillas, arepas, tamales, and different salsas. Arroz con Habichuelas is something very popular in South America.

Also, you will hear the word sofrito a lot in Latin American countries. It is a combination of braised or sautéed aromatics that you will find in most if not all Latin American cuisines. It comprises tomato sauce, garlic, roasted bell peppers, herbs, and onions. Another staple food in Latin America is rice and beans. This is why today I want to let you discover Arroz con Habichuelas.

Arroz con Habichuelas Puerto Rico

If you have ever visited Puerto Rico, you must have heard the name Arroz con Habichuelas in any of the restaurants there. Arroz con Habichuelas translated in English simply means rice and beans. The dish originated from Puerto Rico a Caribbean island in North America.

Puerto Rico is known for its beautiful landscape consisting of waterfalls, mountains, and a tropical rain forest. Puerto Rico is considered one of the best vacation destinations due to its majestic beaches and Spanish Caribbean culture that comes with an American twist. Apart from the rich history, amazing culture, and beautiful landscape, it also has some of the best Latin American cuisines, such as the Arroz con Habichuelas.

Arroz con Habichuelas is an attachment dish in most Latin American homes. The dish contains rice, beans, tomato sauce, seasonings, and green Spanish olives. However, the ingredients vary from country to country. The recipe comes from Puerto Rico, however many Latin American countries have learned to make their disparities and twists to this very popular dish.

Puerto Rico has a very rich mixture of different dishes one of them being rice. Rice is traditional to Puerto Ricans but each household has learned its tricks n twists to make it more delicious.

Today am going to talk about Arroz con Habichuelas which as mentioned means rice and beans. This dish originated from Puerto Rico as a result of globalization. They discovered it from the Indians(Taino), Spaniards (who conquered Puerto Rico), and Africans who came to Puerto Rico as slaves.

Place of Origin of Each Ingredient

Rice: It was introduced to Brazil and Mexico during the colonial era by the Spaniards and Portuguese. However recently it was discovered that a distant relative of Asian rice which was of the same genus was discovered and cultivated by the ancient Amazon people. When African slaves got to Puerto Rico, they started farming different things, including rice. The Puerto Ricans saw the potential for dissemination and discovered techniques to grow it by the 16th century.

Pinto beans: These have their origin in South and Central America where their use was introduced via indigenous trade routes throughout South America. It was was also brought to Europe by Spanish colonists in the 15th century. Puerto Rico adopted beans from the Tainos, and it has now become a staple dish.

Onions: These are believed to have originated from Iran, West Pakistan, and Central Asia.

Green Peppers: These are native to Central and South America.  However, green peppers are widely used in Puerto Rico dishes to add more flavor and color.

Garlic: This crop is very old and was brought to ancient China, Europe, and Egypt by travelers. The Europeans which included the Spanish, French, and Portuguese later on introduced it to the Americans. You will not find many Puerto Rican dishes that don’t incorporate this fragrant and healthy ingredient.

The other ingredients were mostly the Puerto Ricans who discovered and incorporated them into this dish.

If you like this article about Mediterranean Food, check also this popular article about Turkish Food

Arroz con Habichuelas Dominicano

This is the most common dish in the Dominican Republic. It is also known as ‘moro’. Arroz con Habichuelas Dominicano is a combination of rice, beans, and vegetables seasoned with spices and herbs which are easily made as a side dish or as a family meal.

Moro recipes are made in diverse ways depending on the country and region where each country has its combination of ingredients and flavors. The dish is not unique to the Dominican Republic since there are a dozen disparities of it in different Latin American countries.

These variations have their combination of flavors and ingredients are carefully chosen to make it healthier and flavorful but the result is always the same. The dish is popular to make during holidays since it can be cooked in huge quantities in one single big pot. It is made by combining canned or boiled beans, vegetables, spices, and herbs cooked together with rice in one huge pot.

You will find it (rice and beans)at any Dominican gathering. The dish goes very well with various vegetables, stewed meat, or seafood cooked in tomato sauce. Try it at home and you will never get disappointed since it is easy to cook and your family will always be asking for more and more of it!

To make your customized recipe with a Dominican touch, you can use red, pinto, or cranberry beans. You can also modify the recipe by using either butter beans, pigeon peas, black beans, or navy beans, which are all available anywhere in the world.

Arroz con Habichuelas Cubano

Beans are an extraordinary source of energy ànd so good to face all your day’s obligations. In addition, they are also a good source of fiber which helps us in our bowel movements.

The beans also provide us with minerals such as iron, potassium, and magnesium which are all good for our body’s health. These health benefits make it a complete meal, which you should always be present in every home’s diet regularly.

Cubans also have their way of making arroz con habichuelas. Their variety contains Cuban rice and beans. The dish is also referred to as moors and Christians. The Cubans mostly accompany this dish with plantains, which are peeled, washed, and cut into slices which are then fried in the pan.

The beauty of this dish is that it only takes three steps, which means that you can make it when you receive unexpected guests. It is balanced, delicious, and flavorful. If you wish to make it more balanced and nutritious and also vegetarian friendly, you can put a portion of vegetables, avocado, and salad.

You can use any rice that you prefer. However, the ideal one to use is the regular long-grain white rice since you will get the best texture for your dish. Also, remember not to overcook the rice since it may lose its texture and good taste.

Arroz con Habichuelas Recipe

Here is a simple recipe for preparing Arroz con Habichuelas. It is easy to follow and the results are amazing.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of white rice
• 1 can of beans
• 3 big red onions
• 1 medium-sized bell pepper
• 1/2 cup of tomato sauce
• Garlic
• Oregano
• 4 cups of water
• 2 chicken bullion cubes
• 2 tbsp Adobo
• Black pepper for seasoning
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 3 tbsp of sofrito
• 2 ounces of ham steak cut into small cubes
• 1 pack of sazon with cilantro and achiote
• A few cubes of pork fat
• A handful of freshly chopped coriander
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. In a large pot, heat your olive oil over medium heat. Saute pork fat for about 3minutes. It is best to use cast iron to avoid the rice from sticking at the bottom. The cast-iron pot allows the rice to cook uniformly thus giving you a sumptuous meal.
2. Add ham and saute for two more minutes.
3. In the pot, add 3 tbs of sofrito and stir. Cook together with pork and ham for another 5 minutes.
4. Add the red onions, bell pepper, garlic, tomato sauce, chicken bouillon cubes, oregano, sazon, adobo, and the black pepper for 3-4 minutes until everything is well blended and the kitchen is full of a sweet aroma.
5. Add beans with their liquid and water and let them cook for about 3minutes. As the beans are cooking, use that time to rinse your rice in water (about 4 rinses)till the water runs clear. This will help to remove the talc coating which helps to preserve the rice and give it a perfect taste.
6. Add 4 cups of water to the pot. As the water starts to boil, add the rice, stir and cook for around 15 minutes. Do not remove the lid to check on the rice once you have stirred and covered it until it is time to check on it again. This helps to avoid stun as it(rice) will remain hard grain and will not cook the right way
7. Remove the lid after 15 minutes and stir again(the rice will be drier now which shows it is cooking pretty well).
8. Cover the pot and let it cook for 15 more minutes. Remove the lid and stir again, which by now the rice should not be wet and sticky but completely dry. Remove the pot from the fire and set it aside.
9. Top it with freshly chopped cilantro and serve with a side dish of your own. Enjoy!

Notes

Mostly you can use red or pinto beans. However, black, white or fava beans can also do perfectly well. You can also make it vegan-friendly by using vegetable bouillon cubes instead of chicken bouillon cubes.

another great recipe includes adding different vegetables like mushrooms and carrots. If you choose to use brown rice, cooking time will be much longer and also you will need to add extra water for best results.

Popular Articles About Traditional and Authentic Mexican Food

Cachapa – True Venezuelan Delicacy [Origin, Curiosities and Recipe]

Escabeche – Spanish Delicacy? [What It Is, Curiosities and Recipes]