Puerto Rican Rice and Beans
Puerto Rican Rice and Beans WITH VIDEO - otherwise known as Habichuelas Guisadas (Stewed Beans) - are the most flavorful beans simmered in a tomato and sofrito based broth with potatoes and olives. Served over rice they are a meal unto themselves, or a classic staple with every Puerto Rican dinner!
Puerto Rican Rice and Beans (Habichuelas Guisadas)
Update: new photos added July 2017. VIDEO added August 2017 (scroll down). Original recipe published December 2013.
I've mentioned before that I'm half Polish, half Mexican and I've shared recipes various from my cultural influences.
But this recipe says who I am and what I claim: I'm Puerto Rican!
I used to repeat that phrase proudly as a little girl when asked about my background.
(It was all the more humorous since I couldn't pronounce my R's when I was young.)
Fast forward a few years and I realized I wasn't actually Puerto Rican at all!
What can I say? Little kids are a product of their environment and the many Puerto Rican friends and family I was surrounded by made a big impression on me...and so will this Puerto Rican Rice and Beans recipe!
This is my favorite Puerto Rican meal and so quick and easy to make.
I prefer pink or red beans, but you can also use kidney beans if you like.
The beans are simmered in a tomato and sofrito based broth.
The potatoes soak up all the vibrant flavors and the olives add a briny pop.
Instead of potatoes you can also use calabaza which is Caribbean pumpkin.
Served over rice to soak up all the sauce, this recipe can't be beat. I could eat this everyday!
For some, it might be difficult to find sofrito, which is a vegetable purée that forms the base for most Puerto Rican recipes.
I've included some options below for finding or making your own sofrito, and I've included the brands I use for the other ingredients that may not be familiar.
Many grocery stores carry Goya brand these days so they shouldn't be hard to find.
Check out my Puerto Rican Resources page for more information!
This is the pot (caldero) that I use for cooking.
P.S. These beans are amazing with tostones - crispy fried plantains!
UPDATE: here you can find a more detailed recipe on how to make sofrito.
Pin this to your Puerto Rican Recipes board!
Puerto Rican Rice and Beans (Habichuelas Guisadas)
Puerto Rican Beans simmered in a flavorful broth of sofrito and tomato.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 heaping tablespoons sofrito
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 cans (15-16 ounces) kidney, red or pink beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) water
- 1 packet Sazón with Coriander and Annatto (Culantro and Achiote)
- 1 packet ham flavor (I use Goya Jamón) (optional)
- 1 teaspoon adobo (I use Goya)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons Manzanilla or Spanish pimento-stuffed olives
- ½ pound potatoes, peeled and diced into large chunks
- Cooked white rice, for serving
Instructions
- In a medium caldero, sauté sofrito in oil 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
- Add tomato sauce, beans, water, sazón and ham packet. Season with pepper, adobo, garlic powder, oregano and stir. Taste and adjust spices according to your liking. Broth should be slightly salty since the potatoes will absorb much of the flavor.
- Add potatoes and olives and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are cooked through, about 30 minutes or so, depending on their size. Serve over hot rice.
Notes
If sofrito is not something you are familiar with, there are a few options. Sofrito is the base for many Puerto Rican dishes.
- See if a local Hispanic store sells it.
- Goya brand makes a prepared version that your regular grocery store may carry, but choose the green jar that says "Recaito" instead of “Sofrito.” If they only have the “Sofrito,” decrease the amount of tomato sauce in the recipe by about half.
- Make your own. If you cannot find all of the ingredients, use what you can and it will still turn out tasty!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 177Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 490mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 10g
Nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Please consult the labels of ingredients you use for more accurate results.
*see Puerto Rican Resources page for more information on products and ingredients.
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I love this recipes the only thing is my family loves taking all the juice to it. Can I double up on the water if double it on the spices?
Yes you can. Sometimes I make it extra saucy for this very reason!
@Rebekah, extra saucy meaning extra tomato sauce or sofrito?
It’s a great dish 😋
Love this recipe! Can this be used in my meal preps and be frozen?
I've frozen the beans before and they come out a little watery when thawed.
By far an easy and adaptable recipe. I have been making this exact one for at least 4 years. I only make minor tweaks here and there based on what is in the pantry.
This read beans recipe with some braised chicken thighs are out of this world.
My 1st time ever making this period. And u used your recipe. I will never order it out again.. thank you
I can not wait to try this! It is funny because I've searched different recipes but always seem to go back to this one! When I first had this dish I learned it was calabaza that was used, but I am happy to know if I do not have that, potatoes are an alternative. Thank you so much for the warm post! Your instructions are wonderful! I will definitely look out for other recipes from you. You are appreciated!Have a wonderful weekend. All the best to you!
I just made your recipe and it was so easy and DELICIOUS!! Thank You for sharing it - it’s definitely a keeper.
This is my go-to recipe - love it!! I add a few more of certain seasoning packets and make my own sofrito (and freeze it in ice cube trays).
Has anyone ever made this in a crockpot before? I always make it on my stove, but am making it this weekend for a crockpot cook-off. If I have to transfer from stove-top to crockpot I will . . . .
@Elena, I was wondering the same thing. Can this be made in a crockpot? I don't see any replies. Did you try it? Also, how long does your sofrito last in the freezer? Do you follow a recipe for the sofrito? I have been looking for one with a lot of flavor, but so far I haven't found anything I like.
@Stephanie, why not! I suggest putting all seasoning and sofrito in crockpot with water but use dry beans. Remember to wash your beans out of the package. I never soak my dry beans and they come out perfect. I use a ham hock or smocked turkey neck for a smoky flavor. Cook for 4-6 hours.
@Stephanie,
I think if you used dry beans that you soaked overnight 1st the crockpot will work
@Elena, I tried a crockpot once, and the beans burnt and became mushy. I did try my insta pot using the rice setting and it turned out great! However, I usually just do stove top and make my rice in the insta pot hehe
@Stephanie, i have no idea of the 1st question but my sofrito lasts forever in the freezer and I usually use it all up before anything else anyway.
This is the closest recipe I have found to my mom's recipe. Thank you so much. My mom, Aurora Morales was born in Peñuelas, PR.
Thanks so much, that means a lot.
Just wondering how you would adapt this recipe to use dried beans instead of canned ?
Thanks 🙂
I don't have measurements but the beans should be soaked overnight and boiled the next morning in fresh water. Don't discard the cooking water because it has SO much flavor and helps to thicken the beans. In a separate pot sauté the sofrito and continue the recipe from there.
@Joyce, season the same way using your dry beans. Remember to wash your beans out of the package. Add water as it cooks down until your beans are nice and soft.
Can you use regular black olives instead of the green ones as I really do not like the green ones.
Yes you can try it or just leave the olives out. Do you like capers? That would be a good substitute as well.
Just made this but didn’t see the note to use the green Goya jar and used the red one and same amount of tomato sauce…still very good and similar to what my abuela used to make! Thanks for this!
Glad to hear this! Anything that reminds of abuela is the best compliment.
Delicious.. I’ve made a few times .. I make my own sofrito
I made this recipe today. My wife and I really enjoyed the flavors and the potatoes. we will definitely make this again. I am 100% Polish. I speak Polish and my wife and I speak Spanish. We lived in a Cuban and Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago for a number of years and loved being part of both cultures. We all can appreciate and enjoy our similarities and our differences with love for our neighbors. We love the parties and the dancing and the food with our Cuban and Puerto Rican friends. Viva Puerto Rico! Viva Cuba! Viva Poland!
I love this! That's one of the great things about living in the Chicago area that I miss. I wish I spoke Polish too, but I never learned from my grandfather.
If im doubling the recipe do I just double the ingredients?
Yes sir!