“Simple and Cheap”

Rice and beans, simple and cheap usually go together when you think of Belizean food. The famous Belize Rice and Beans is cooked with red beans, black pepper and coconut milk. You can find this most famous of all Belizean cuisines on most restaurants’ daily menu.

I thought ‘beans and rice’ and rice and beans’ were the same thing. But to my surprise the Belizeans have gotten me straight on my beans and rice or do you prefer rice and beans? Guess what, there is a difference in Belize. When you refer to rice and beans, the dish is cooked together in coconut milk. When you refer to beans and rice, this dish is cooked separately and served separately. Now I know everyone is glad we have that straight. So here is a recipe I found for “Belizean rice and beans”.

Belizean Rice and Beans

1 pound of red beans

2 cloves garlic (crushed)

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon thyme

2 pounds rice

1 medium onion (chopped)

6-8 cups of water

Optional – 1 small pig's tail

Directions

Wash and soak beans for 4 hours in 6-8 cups of water. Cook beans until tender with garlic, onion and pig’s tail. Season beans with black pepper, thyme and salt. Add coconut milk. Cook until boiling.  Add rice, stir and cover and cook on low heat until the water is absorbed and rice is done.