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Belizean Rice and Beans is a staple in Belize. When visitors ask a Belizean what the national dish is, usually the response will be "Belizean rice and beans, stewed chicken, and potato salad." The other day I made some Stewed Beans. I used a pound of Camellia dried red kidney beans to make these Stewed Beans...and do you know what you have when you cook up a pound of dried beans? Enough food to feed an army!
I used some of my stewed beans to create a delicious rice and beans dish, a la Belizean style. In addition to the stewed beans, the ingredients include garlic, onion, cilantro, fresh thyme, coconut milk, chicken broth, rice, and seasonings. One seasoning I have used in this recipe is Goya Sazonador Total, which has become one of my favorite seasonings! Click here if you would like to purchase Goya Sazonador Total on Amazon.
I have made a fair few rice dishes since I began cooking, but I had never included thyme in them. This was a revelation to me. The thyme really helped to give the rice and beans an incredible flavor. And may I say that the aroma from this pot of rice and beans was absolutely amazing.
This will definitely end up back on our plates in the future. Although it is preferable to use stewed beans that you cook up, for ease of preparation you could also use canned stewed red beans.
Simple, easy, delicious! I hope you will try making these fantastic rice and beans, a la Belizean style!
Some Other Belizean Dishes You May Enjoy!
For a true Belizean style dinner, serve this accompanied by delicious Belizean Stewed Chicken. 🙂
You may also enjoy this delicious condiment which can accompany the chicken and rice...Belizean Hot Pepper Onion Sauce. So incredibly easy and amazing you will love it!
Cheers!
Grace
Belizean Rice and Beans
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- ½ onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 cup stewed beans use canned or see my recipe for stewed beans: https://explorecookeat.com/belizean-stewed-beans/
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth plus additional may be needed
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon cilantro diced
- ½ ts salt plus additional to taste
- ¼ ts pepper plus additional to taste
- 1 tablespoon Sazonador Total by Goya
Instructions
- Heat up olive oil in a med sized saucepan (med high). Add garlic and onion, and saute for around 2 minutes.
- Add rice, coconut milk, chicken broth, thyme, Sazonador Total seasoning, salt, pepper, stewed beans and some liquid, mix and bring to the boil.
- Reduce heat to med-low to medium so that the beans and rice are on a low simmer, and then cover and cook for 25 minutes, checking every so often to ensure the mixture does not dry out. If it is dry, at a little more chicken broth or water (around ¼ cup), stir, and recover. Continue this until the rice is tender. You may need to cook it for a few additional minutes, but I shouldn't think it will take more than 35 minutes.
- Once the rice is tender, stir in the cilantro, and then taste and additional additional seasonings if you like.
- Remove from the heat, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs and then your dish is ready to enjoy!
Natasha
Awesome recipe! Made this to go with your stewed chicken recipe but these rice and beans are so tasty I could happily eat it on it's own!
Grace
Hi Natasha! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this dish and now I'm craving it again! Really grateful for you!!! Take care! Grace
Jesse
What kind of rice do you recommend? Medium grain mexican?
Grace
Hi Jesse thanks for your question! Long grain white rice will do just fine for this recipe. If you do end up making it I would love to get your feedback. Thanks again and have a great day! Grace
Lori
Do you drain the beans before adding to the rice?
Grace
Hi Lori, great question and I'm so sorry that I didn't make that clear in the recipe! Yes, please drain the beans prior to adding to the rice. Thanks so very much and if you do try out the recipe I'd love to get your feedback and I do hope you enjoy it! Take good care! Grace
NW
Great recipe! We loved this with your stew chicken and we also made the stew beans!
Grace
Hi there! I'm so so happy that you liked this recipe and what an honor for me that you also tried the stew chicken and beans! You have absolutely made my day and I'm so thankful for you taking the time to comment here. Wishing you a wonderful day and week ahead and thank you again!!! Grace
Sara
Absolutely delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
Grace
Hi Sara! I'm so so happy that you liked the dish! Thank you so much for trying it out and taking the time to comment here...I am truly grateful! Have a wonderful day, Grace
Brandon
I’ve made this recipe a few times and it turns out great each time. The only change I’ve made is not adding the thyme but that is a personal preference. I will say that I’ve made this for a family friend who is from Belize and he said it was very close to how his wife makes it.
I would recommend this recipe. It’s super simple and it’s delicious so give it a try!
Grace
Hi Brandon! I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you trying out this recipe and actually taking the time to comment here. I'm super happy over the moon that you made this for your friend as well...and so happy to hear his comments! Thank you thank you so very very much and to go to sleep tonight knowing that you enjoy this recipe makes me so very happy! Thankfully, Grace
Shani
Recently returned from a trip to Belize. I have been craving the rice and beans we had there. This recipe is amazing and tastes exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you!
Grace
Hi Shani! I'm so happy that you enjoyed time in beautiful Belize! Thanks so much for taking the time to try this recipe and commenting here. I'm over the moon that you liked the rice and beans and hope that whenever you enjoy this dish it will take you back to the time you had in Belize. Thanks again and I hope you have a wonderful week! Grace