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Brown Rice with Black Beans and Cilantro

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on January 7, 2009

Time

2 hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Brown Rice with Black Beans and Cilantro

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)1 green bell pepper, chopped fine3 garlic cloves, minced1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 2 ¼ cups water 1 ½ cups brown rice, long-grain (see note)1 teaspoon salt 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 lime, cut into wedges

Before You Begin

Short-grain brown rice (see related How To Cook) can also be used.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  2. Add broth and water; cover and bring to boil. Remove pot from heat; stir in rice and salt. Cover and bake rice until tender, 65 to 70 minutes.
  3. Remove pot from oven, uncover, fluff rice with fork, stir in beans, and replace lid; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and black pepper. Serve, passing lime wedges separately.
Brown Rice with Black Beans and Cilantro

Brown Rice with Black Beans and Cilantro

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

2 hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
1 green bell pepper, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 ¼ cups water
1 ½ cups brown rice, long-grain (see note)
1 teaspoon salt
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 lime, cut into wedges

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
1 green bell pepper, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 ¼ cups water
1 ½ cups brown rice, long-grain (see note)
1 teaspoon salt
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 lime, cut into wedges

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
1 green bell pepper, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 ¼ cups water
1 ½ cups brown rice, long-grain (see note)
1 teaspoon salt
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 lime, cut into wedges

Why This Recipe Works

To bump up the flavor of our basic brown rice recipe, we made a few easy additions. Caramelizing onions in a Dutch oven before stirring in the rice and incorporating chicken broth into the cooking liquid had a positive impact. Fresh herbs and a squeeze of citrus just before serving brightened our brown rice recipe.

Before You Begin

Short-grain brown rice (see related How To Cook) can also be used.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  2. Add broth and water; cover and bring to boil. Remove pot from heat; stir in rice and salt. Cover and bake rice until tender, 65 to 70 minutes.
  3. Remove pot from oven, uncover, fluff rice with fork, stir in beans, and replace lid; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and black pepper. Serve, passing lime wedges separately.

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