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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos)

    LAST UPDATED: July 20, 2018 • FIRST PUBLISHED: January 16, 2016 By Toni Dash 28 Comments

    Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos)

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    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    titled image - colorful bowl of Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos).

    Cuban black beans and rice is an easy, flavorful side dish or perfect for a rice bowl layered with some protein and vegetables. One bite of this authentic Cuban black beans and rice recipe and you’ll be hooked!
    titled image - colorful bowl of Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos).

    The other day I was making a large pot of Gallo Pinto, Costa Rican beans and rice (a typical staple for breakfast there) and flashed on a Cuban restaurant I used to go to for lunch years ago when living in California. A coworker took me there for the first time and it may have been the first time I’d had Cuban food.

    The place was a bit of a hole in the wall (which I loved) and I recall getting a plate of chicken, fried plantains and black beans and rice. It was plate rich with distinct flavors, spicy, sweet and tangy, leaving me feeling I’d traveled to another land over the noon hour.

    History of Cuban Black Beans and Rice

    With this thought hanging in my mind I did some research on those Cuban Black Beans and Rice, feeling it similar to Gallo Pinto and wanting to whip up a batch of them. The Cuban version, Moros y Cristianos, is symbolic of Spanish history; the black beans represent the Muslim Moors and the rice represent the Christians. Cooked together they absorb the flavors of the dish and the beans lend color to the white rice.

    top down view looking into a bowl of Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos).

    Bean and rice dishes can be found in most cultures. A popular one from the U.S. is Hoppin John which uses black eyed peas and rice. Said to deliver good luck if eating it first thing on New Year’s Day, Hoppin John undoubtedly has African roots that originally brought it to America. Beans and rice combine make up a whole protein so it’s a filling combination that is usually very inexpensive to make as well.

    Moros y Cristianos is a flavorful recipe that makes a hearty side dish for most meals. Add it to grilled or roasted meats for something a bit out of the ordinary! It inspired another full meal recipe for Cuban Garlic Chicken Bowls with Beans & Rice, Fried Plantains and mojo sauce. Doesn’t that sound great?

    Pair it with a Peruvian Pisco Sour cocktail for a light, refreshing sipper!

    colorful bowl of Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos).

    Helpful tools for making Cuban Beans and Rice:

    • Dutch Oven

    Another Rice and Bean Recipes You’ll Love:

    • Slow Cooker Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

    If you’ve tried these Cuban Rice and Beans or any other recipe on BoulderLocavore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to!

    How to Make Cuban Black Beans and Rice:

    titled image - colorful bowl of Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos).

    Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos)

    Moros y Cristianos is a classic Cuban bean and rice dish that can be found paired with most authentic meals. It's easy to make and is a great side dish for any entree.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Cuban
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 6 cups
    Calories: 149kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
    • 1 small Yellow Onion , peeled and chopped
    • ½ cup finely chopped Green Pepper
    • 4 large Garlic Cloves , peeled and diced
    • 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
    • 1 teaspoon dried Oregano
    • 1 15-ounce can Black Beans , undrained
    • 1 cup Long Grain White Rice
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 2 tablespoons Lime Juice
    • Garnish: 1 slice Bacon , cooked (not crisp), drained and chopped
    • Garnish: chopped fresh Cilantro leaves

    Instructions

    • In a large saucepan or Dutch oven (with lid) heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, green pepper and garlic and sauté until soft (8-10 minutes).
    • Add the cumin and oregano; sauté until fragrant (30 seconds to a 1 minute).
    • Drain the liquid from the black beans into a liquid measuring cup (a 2 cup measuring cup if available). Add water to make 2 cups total liquid. Pour the liquid into the pan (reserve the beans), add the bay leaf, and bring to a boil (will happen quickly) scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
    • Add the rice and black beans; bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and simmering. Cover and allow to cook until the liquid is fully absorbed into the rice (approximately 25 minutes).
    • Remove from heat. Stir in the lime juice and serve with chopped bacon and cilantro leaves for garnish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 13.4mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
    [wprm-nutrion-label]
    « Slow Cooker Spicy Chorizo Green Chile Cannellini Bean Soup
    Cuban Garlic Chicken Bowls with Beans & Rice, Fried Plantains & Mojo Sauce »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Happy Girl says

      April 12, 2021 at 12:25 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious with the Caribbean Pot Roast and mashed sweet potatoes

      Reply
    2. Happy Girl says

      April 12, 2021 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious with the Caribbean Pot Roast and mashed sweet potatoes -both found on this blog!

      Reply
    3. Becca Wilson says

      January 29, 2016 at 5:45 pm

      This looks super yummy! This would make for a great meal and then even better for lunch the next day 🙂

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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