Western Beans & Rice (Usa Rice)

Beans and rice is one of those meals that never lets you down: cheap, filling, nutritious, and on the table faster than delivery.

This version keeps it straightforward with pinto beans simmered in tomato sauce, onions, celery, and a shake of hot sauce, then spooned over hot brown rice.

It’s low-fat, vegetarian, feeds six, and takes 25 minutes total.

The kind of recipe you make on a Wednesday when the fridge is looking bare and you still want something warm and satisfying.

Kitchen Tips

• Cook the onions and celery until they’re truly soft and translucent. Raw crunch in the finished dish fights with the creamy texture of the beans.
• A quarter teaspoon of hot sauce is mild. Dial it up freely if you like more heat.
• Brown rice gives this more body and nuttiness than white rice, but either works fine in a pinch.