This easy, 9-ingredient plant-based meal is packed with flavor and delicious nutrition in every bite! Aromatic brown rice and pinto beans are embellished with onion, salsa and a simple avocado crema!
Prep time: 15 minutes; Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
RICE
- 8 cups (2880 ml) water
- 1 cup (185 g) uncooked brown rice, this can be substituted with quinoa
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) grape seed oil
- 1/2 white or yellow onion, thinly sliced (55 g)
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/3 cup (85 g) chunky red or green salsa, plus more for topping; a homemade salsa or pico de gallo would work here as well
- 1/4 cup (15 g) cilantro, plus more for serving
PEPPERS
- 4 poblano peppers, skin on
- 1 tsp grapeseed, olive or coconut oil
BEANS
- 1 15-ounce (425 g) can pinto beans, lightly drained (if unsalted, add additional salt)
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- Sea salt to taste (~ a pinch)
FOR TOPPING optional
- Creamy Avocado Cilantro Dressing (see link for recipe)
- Hot sauce
- Fresh cilantro
- Sliced avocado
Instructions
- Add 8 cups water to a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add rice and cook for 30 minutes. Drain and return to pot off of heat, and cover for 10 minutes. Set aside.
- In the meantime, preheat oven to high broil and place a rack at the top of your oven.
- Lightly brush whole poblano peppers with oil. Place on a baking sheet and broil on high for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until lightly blistered (see photo).
- Turn oven off broil and preheat to 375 degrees F.
- Let peppers cool for a few minutes, then peel away any blistered skin and use a paring knife to cut out the stem. Also cut a slit down one side of the pepper and use your hands or a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Set aside.
- Heat a large metal or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 Tbsp oil and onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until soft and translucent.
- Next add cooked rice, cumin, 1/4 tsp sea salt, salsa and cilantro. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- In a separate small saucepan over medium heat, add pinto beans and season with cumin and sea salt to taste. Once bubbly and hot, remove from heat and set aside.
- Place peppers in a lightly greased, large baking dish (9×13-inch is best) and scoop generous amounts of the rice filling into each pepper using a spoon. Top with beans and a bit more salsa and cover the dish with foil.
- Bake peppers at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes, then remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes uncovered. The longer they bake, the more tender the peppers will become.
- Let cool slightly before serving with desired toppings (see options above). Best when fresh, though leftovers keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a 350 degree F oven until warmed through.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 4 servings without additional toppings.
Serving size: 1 pepper without toppings Calories: 309 Fat: 5.8 g Saturated fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 56.4 g Sugar: 3.8 g Sodium: 379 g Fiber: 7.8 g Protein: 9.8 g