Rice and Beans Bowl + using beans for oil and butter

picture from Native Bowl in Portland

This dish is so very yummy!!! 

Here is my concoction for seasoned black, small red, etc.

Rice and Beans Bowl
2 (15 oz.) can of beans (small reds are my favorite)
1/2 t. white pepper
1/4 t. paprika
1/4 t. garlic powder (I always add a little more because I like things garlicky)
1/4 t. salt
1 - 2 T. coconut oil

1. Pour the beans with their liquid into a large saucepan. Turn the heat to medium.

2. Add the pepper, paprika, coconut oil, garlic powder, and salt.

3. When the beans begin to boil, use a fork to mash some of the beans against the side of the pan. Stir the mixture constantly for about 20 min until the beans reach the consistency of re-fried beans. (Smooth, creamy texture with some whole beans still swimming around.)

Ok, here is my disclaimer. Sometimes I follow this to the end. Other times I am in a hurry or I want a different texture so sometimes I just throw everything into a microwavable bowl and heat til hot and use the beans whole.


One of my favorite concoctions is: (Layer the following in a bowl and enjoy)

Brown Rice
Seasoned Beans
Fresh chopped tomatoes
Fresh chopped avocado
Texas Pete shaken on top
Sometimes I add some fresh cilantro

by Cheryl, Barbara's daughter

_____

TIPS FOR USING BEANS FOR OIL AND BUTTER

from Everyday Food Storage

1. If your recipe calls for oil, you are going to use a bean puree.  What is a bean puree you ask?  It’s simply cooked beans with enough water to whirl in your blender.  If you want a simple way to try this, take a can of beans (the entire can) and dump it in the blender and blend it.  Done.
2. If your recipe calls for butter, you are going to use cooked, drained beans.
3. For substituting beans for both butter and/or oil you are going to use a 1:1 ration.  That means if your recipe calls for 3/4 C. oil, you are going to use 3/4 C. bean puree.  If your recipe calls for 1 C. butter you are going to use 1 C. beans.  You’ll use the same measurements for beans as your original recipe says to use for either the oil and/or butter.
4. When wondering which beans to use-you are going to match color for color.  If it is a chocolate cake, use black beans. If it is a spice cake, use pinto beans.  If it is a white cake, use white beans.  Now, here is the tricky part…you can also use white beans in chocolate cake but you can’t use black beans in your white cake.  Your family will wonder what all of those black specks are.   To be safe, you can use white beans in almost anything.
5. Now, you’re going to add the beans however your recipe says to use the butter and/or oil.  So, if your recipe says to cream the butter with the sugar-you’re going to cream the beans with the sugar.  If your recipe says to add the oil to the dry ingredients, you’re going to add the bean puree to the dry ingredients.
6. If you are using beans in something like brownies or cookies that are supposed to be chewy, the beans will not make it chewy-it will be cake like.  So if you’re family is big on chewy that doesn’t mean you have an excuse not to use beans.  It just means you need to use half oil/butter and half beans.  It will still be chewy and you’ll still be saving money and adding fiber and protein!  Remember, I’m not big into all or nothing-even a little or half is better than nothing and it’s important that your family likes what you make!

_____

Other bowl ideas from a food cart menu in Portland