Arguably one of the greatest Latin American rice side dishes! Why have white rice and black beans when you can have it together? This classic Cuban dish goes by many names (Moros y Cristianos, etc.) depending on the region or Latin country, but once you try it you’ll understand it doesn’t matter what it’s called — it’s simply delicious. This dish captures everything amazing about black beans and infuses it into white rice.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Sometimes regular white rice can get a little boring. Cuban congri is the perfect solution to spice up your “rice game!” Save yourself the dishes and time. This rice recipe is easily made in one pot. Enjoy the taste of white rice and black beans in one dish.
Here are few reasons why this will become your new favorite way to make rice:
Easy – This meal will be ready in under 30 min! You would think incorporating Cuban black beans into white rice would be complicated, but this can all be made in one pot. If you have a pressure cooker or Instant Pot you’ll have it ready in just 30 min!
Creatively delicious – Who doesn’t love white rice and black beans? It’s probably the most common side dish for Cuban dish. When you put them together you get a combination that is truly a match made in heaven.
Versatile – Serve this with ANY protein. Yes, I’m serious. There’s nothing this doesn’t taste good with. There’s a reason we use it so much. We can all agree that rice completes any dish, and this one is at the top of the list.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
- Washed white rice – The absolutely best cut to use for this meal is obviously a tender ribeye or filet. A more budget friendly option would be top sirloin. All in all, use a cut of meat that stays tender when cooked quickly on high heat.
- Dry black beans – Can there ever be enough garlic? The start to any amazing dish. There’s hints of garlic in every aspects of this dish and they all blend together well. Sautéed garlic, raw garlic and infused garlic.
- Onion, bell peppers & garlic – A little bit of butter adds deliciousness to every dish. Every steak should be basted in butter or in this case showered in a garlic butter sauce. Mashed potatoes is only as good as the amount of butter, so add a lot and you’ll be set.
- Bacon or Chicharron (Pork Belly) – Chimichurri can be made with both cilantro and/or parsley. You can use dried or fresh oregano too. Get creative!
How to make Cuban Congri
#1. Softened dried black beans.
#2. Strain bean broth. Keep separate.
#3. Crisp up bacon or pork belly
#4. Sauté onion, bell peppers, garlic
#5. Add washed rice, bean broth, beans and half of the bacon. Cook your rice how regularly would on a stovetop or rice cooker.
6. Fluff rice and serve with more bacon!
Recipe Tips
#1 – Rice size
You can use any grain size. Cooking times will vary. I prefer long grain rice.
If you liked this Cuban Congri recipe, check out some other popular recipes on the blog!
Authentic Cuban Congri
Equipment
- 1 Pressure cooker
Ingredients
Black Beans
- 2 cups dried black beans
- 6 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 white onion whole
- 1/2 red bell pepper whole
- 1/2 green bell pepper whole
- 3 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 tsp salt
Rice
- 1/2 red bell pepper finely diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper finely diced
- 1/2 white onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups uncooked white rice
- 2 3/4 – 3 cups bean broth
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups cooked beans
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Softened Black Beans
- Place all ingredients in a pressure cooker on high for 15-20 minutes until softened.
- Drain beans and save broth.
Rice
- In a large pot or pressure cooker, sauté onions, bell peppers until softened.
- Add garlic and once fragrant, add spices, bay leaves and rice. Mix & coat the rice with the flavor in the pot.
- Pour bean broth & add beans. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
- Cook rice using the "rice cooker" setting.
