Most authentic Mexican rice recipes call for, well, rice.

But we have bean up to something… We innovatively created a home-cooked, semi-authentic Mexican rice and beans recipe!

We decided to use farro instead of more traditional rice like Spanish rice. Farro is an ancient grain packed with nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins, and other minerals.

Farro does take a bit longer to prepare than brown rice, so feel free to cook rice if in a time crunch. (We also have the perfect fluffy brown rice recipe, no rice cooker required!)

Really, you do not want to miss this unique Mexican rice recipe with beans!

Mexican Rice Recipe

Yield: 10 servings

Nutrition per serving: 160 calories, 4 g fat, 6 g protein, 26 g total carb, 6 g fiber

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 80 minutes (with option of 50 min make-ahead item and 30 min day of)
Total time: 90 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup farro, uncooked
• 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil (or other mild-flavored oil)
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, diced
• 1 can (15oz) black beans, drained but not rinsed
• 2 cups fresh kale, chopped
• 1/2 cup chipotle in adobo sauce, canned and roughly chopped (a couple pieces of pepper and sauce)
• 1 cup vegetable broth (feel free to use chicken broth or chicken stock)
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Preplanning: Cook farro the day before so that it has time to chill in the refrigerator overnight. To cook farro, add 3 cups of water and 1 cup farro to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 50 to 60 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off heat and let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

2. Once cooled, remove to a food storage container and store in the refrigerator until ready for use the next day. Note: The farro will still be a little crunchy, as they will be cooked in more liquid the next day.

3. When ready to make the dish, heat oil over medium-high heat in a medium to large sized pot. Add onions and sweat until translucent and fragrant.

4. Add sun-dried tomatoes, kale, black beans, salt, and pepper and stir well to combine. Cook for about 5 minutes until the kale is slightly wilted.

5. Add farro, chipotle peppers with the adobo sauce, and vegetable broth. Stir well to combine. To reduce the level of spiciness in this dish, measure out more sauce and less pieces of the actual peppers. Also when buying canned chipotle peppers in adobo, choose a variety without unwanted ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup.

6. Cook on medium-low heat for about 15 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed. Season further with sea salt and pepper if needed.

7. Fluff and serve warm.

How to Enjoy Mexican Rice and Beans

Of course, you can enjoy the rice and beans on its own but there are so many ways to enjoy it! These include as a base for burrito bowls or side-by-side with a lean protein. 

Add to the ultimate build-your-own taco far for your next #TacoTuesday as well!

1. Pair with a lean protein.

One of the simplest ways to eat Mexican rice and beans is by rounding the side out with a lean protein. While rice and beans are cooking, cook up one of these ideas:

• Grilled chicken
• Sautéed shrimp
• Roasted tofu or tempeh
• Pan-seared sirloin

Add a non-starchy veggie, such as asparagus or zucchini, for the ultimate balanced meal!

2. Layer as a base for burrito bowls.

Burrito bowls are simple and delicious, and quickly prepared with these 3 steps:

1. Fill the bottom of the bowl with the beans and rice.

2. Layer a bowl with a lean protein, including the sources mentioned above.

3. Top with fresh tomato, jalapeños, bell pepper, corn, and other preferred toppings.

4. Season with herbs and spices such as chili powder, cilantro, and red pepper flakes.

5. Drizzle sauces and condiments atop, including salsa, sour cream, and tomato sauce for amplified flavor.

3. Make a build-your-own taco bar.

For your next #TacoTuesday, or any other day of the week, build a taco bar. Sit out favorite taco toppings and let family members get creative.

Traditional toppings include diced tomato, shredded lettuce, and sour cream. But also use this best taco bar checklist, which includes creative toppings such as:

• Plain Greek yogurt for a taste similar to sour cream but an added benefit of more protein.
• Guacamole or this edamole recipe, which uses edamame for the base.
• Shredded cabbage for the ultimate crunch.
• Eggs, which is a delicious idea for breakfast tacos.

Oh, and don't forget about the rice and beans!