Forget Beef: Think Beans and Rice in Your Burrito

Posted in Healthy Eating

When you think of your favorite Tex Mex burrito, is it always filled with beef? Or at least chicken or fish?

Take a walk on the burrito historic side and try one with rice and beans instead.

Placing beef in Mexican foods is something of a United States “invention,” because folks in Mexico first pretty much used beef as a side dish or sort of as a garnishment, not as the main ingredient in their meals. So burritos often were filled with beans and rice.

If you’d like to try a beans and rice burrito, we’ve come across a nifty recipe, courtesy of Kim Hardisan of Florida, via TasteOfHome.com.

You will need (for eight servings):

  • One and a half cups of water
  • One and a half cups on uncooked brown rice
  • One medium diced green pepper
  • Half a cup of chopped onion
  • One teaspoon of olive oil
  • One teaspoon of minced garlic
  • One teaspoon of ground cumin
  • One tablespoon of chili powder
  • One-eight teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
  • One 15-ounce can of black beans. Rinse and drain them.
  • Eight 8-inch warmed flour tortillas
  • One cup of your preferred salsa
  • Reduced-fat sour cream as well as shredded cheddar cheese are optional

To make (should take about 25 minutes):

  • Take a small saucepan and bring the water to boil, then add the rice and return to boil.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer for five minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let stand for five minutes, or until rice absorbs the water.
  • At the same time, take a large skillet and sauté the green peppers and onions in the oil for three to four minutes, or until tender.
  • Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  • Stir in the chili powder, pepper flakes and cumin until combined.
  • Add the beans and rice and cook and stir for four to six minutes, or until thoroughly heated.
  • Take about half a cup of the filling and place it off-center on each tortilla and then top with two tablespoons of the salsa.
  • Fold the tortillas’ sides and ends over the filling and roll up.
  • Serve with sour cream/cheddar cheese, if desired.

A rice and bean burrito is very healthy. It’s low fat and provides good carbs (the beans). One burrito (without cheese/sour cream) is 290 calories, has no cholesterol (although it does provide six grams of fat, one gram of which is unsaturated fat) and provides 9 grams of protein.

We don’t have beef and bean burritos listed here on our Mattito’s menu, but if you’d really like one, just let your server know.

Check out a Mattito’s location near you soon. We look forward to serving you!

Image courtesy of Justin Smith via Flickr.com