You have got to learn how to cook rice and beans as a man or woman who loves combining beans with other food items. Yes, this is a nice combo, but how to cook is a challenge.

If you do not enjoy eating beans when it is cooked alone like in bean porridge, then you need to try the rice and beans recipe.

One way to reduce the flatulence or indigestion associated with beans is to prepare it with another staple and the rice and beans recipe is one such recipe.

Ingredients for Rice and Bean

1. 2 cigar cups (500g) long-grain parboiled rice

2. 1 cigar cup (250g) of brown/black-eyed beans

3. 500 ml Tomato Stew

4. Chicken or Fish

5. Pepper and salt (to taste)

6. 2 medium onions

7. 2 stock cubes

8. 1 teaspoon thyme

Before You cook Rice and Beans

1. Wash and soak the beans for about 5 hours. Discard the water and rinse the beans.

2. Put the beans in a pot, pour some water, and set to boil.

3. Once the beans start boiling, turn off the heat, throw away the water, and wash again. These steps will help minimize the indigestion associated with beans for most people.

4. Prepare the tomato stew. Visit the Tomato Stew page for details on how to do that.

5. Parboil the rice using the method.

6. Meanwhile, cook the chicken till tender with the chopped onions, thyme, and stock cubes. If you would rather use fish, boil the fish for 5 minutes using the same amount of seasoning. Fry or grill the chicken or the fish and set aside.

Cooking Directions

1. Cook the beans until tender and keep aside.

2. Pour your chicken/fish stock into a pot big enough to accommodate the rice and beans, bearing in mind that the rice will rise some more.

3. Add the tomato stew, the parboiled rice, and the cooked beans. Check that the water level is just less than the level of the rice and beans.

4. Add pepper and salt to taste.

5. Stir, cover the pot, and cook at low to medium heat till the water is dry. Serve with fried chicken or fish and Fried Plantain.