This such a delicious rice dish.  Kudos and a hat tip to one of my friends back in the northeast. Almost four years I and a couple friends from up there were on a vacation in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. My friend made this dish for us. It was so wonderful that I needed the recipe. It is an actual Costa Rican recipe she got when on a vacation several years ago. It is so easy especially if you have leftover rice and a can of black beans.  It is a complete protein with the rice and beans. It can be used as a main vegetarian main dish or it can be a side for grilled chicken or grilled fish. Both of those meat proteins would be a traditional Costa Rican meal.  I do like to top with rice with taco beef and homemade Greek yogurt. I make the yogurt in my Instant Pot.  If you don’t have or can’t find Lizano Salsa you can substitute Worcestershire Sauce. But try to find the Lizano. I’m sure you’ll start to use it in other dishes and as a marinade.  And a bonus, this is a pantry friendly meal for emergencies. I hope you like this an much as I do.

• 2 cups cooked Rice
• 1 15 ounce can Black Beans, drained and keep the liquid
• 3 Tbsp Olive Oil or Coconut Oil
• 3 Garlic cloves peeled and pressed or fine mince
• 1 small Red Onion, small dice
• 1 Jalapeno Pepper, fine dice
• 2 Carrots, small dice
• 1 rib Celery, (or more) small dice
• 1 Sweet Pepper (red, orange or yellow) small dice
• ½ cup of liquid from canned Beans
• 1 ½ Tsp ground Cumin
• 1 Tsp ground Coriander
• 1 Tsp grated fresh Ginger or ½ Tsp ground Ginger
• 2 Tbsp Lizano Sauce
• ½ Tsp Liquid Smoke (I used Apple Wood this time)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 Lime
• ½ cup chopped Cilantro

Optional toppings are sliced Green Onions, Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt.

Drain beans and reserve the liquid for adding to pot later. Do not rinse the beans.

In a cast iron or heavy bottom pot over medium heat warm the olive oil. Add onions and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, peppers, carrots, and celery. Sauté about 10 minutes. Add rice and beans and mix. Add bean liquid, cumin, coriander, ginger, Lizano salsa and liquid smoke. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat and cook for about 10 minutes.

If desired, grate some of the lime zest and add to pot or just cut in half and add the lime juice.

Serve as a main dish or a side with meat proteins.