Caribbean Styled Food: Easy Pink Beans and Rice Recipe

Pinks beans are tasty and go well with rice. For a quick and easy way to prepare pink beans, try this easy Pink Beans and Rice recipe.

This easy Pink Beans and Rice recipe offers a novice cook a nice alternative to plain white rice or pasta. Pink beans have a small amount of protein, dietary fiber, iron and calcium. People in the Caribbean love peas and rice and every island has its own way of preparing the recipe. Jamaicans add coconut milk and use either kidney beans or pigeon peas for the legume. Today, this dish as prepared in the BVI is likely to have kidney beans in it. This easy Pink Beans and Rice Recipe uses pink beans instead of the usual pigeon peas or kidney beans. Canned beans are used for easy and quick cooking. If dried beans are to be used, they will have to be soaked to avoid excessive boiling.

Ingredients:

• 1 10.5 ounce can of Goya Pink Beans
• 4 cups of water
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• 1 sprig of chive
• 1 clove of garlic (minced)
• 1 dash of dried oregano
• 1/2 of a small sweet pepper (sliced or diced)
• 3 slices of a whole onion (whole or diced)
• 1 teaspoon salt / seasoning salt
• 3 cups of rice
• 1/2 tablespoon of butter (can be substituted with olive oil)

Directions:

1. Rinse the rice and dice the garlic, onions and sweet pepper, (if desired to be minced), and set aside.
2. Open the can of pink beans and add to an uncovered medium-sized saucepan or pot with salt and water. Boil with medium heat until peas are broken or easy to rend apart with a spoon.
3. When the peas are broken, add all the other ingredients to the pot and stir so that the peas, seasonings and rice are mixed well. Turn the stove to low heat.
4. Cook covered until all the water has evaporated. If the rice needs to be cooked more, add some boiling water and one teaspoon of butter and cover tightly until cooked.

This Easy Pink Beans and Rice Recipe should take less than one-half hour to prepare. It is an excellent side dish that can be served with meat, fish, veggie burger or tofu. This recipe is tasty and works well for a single person who packs lunch or for busy parents who need to make a quick and nutritious side dish.