Soul Food: Spicy Rice and Beans

soul food recipe

How about some soul food for dinner tonight? Soul food is one of my favorite types of southern food, and this dish is no exception. I like my beans and rice with plenty of Tabasco sauce, but if you don’t like that much heat, leave it off. Don't skimp on the meat drippings - they're key to getting some great flavor.

Holle’s Spice Rice and Beans

What you’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup diced or minced onion
• 2 heaping tablespoons diced jalapeno pepper
• 1 can diced tomatoes, drained, reserving liquid
• 3 cups minute rice
• 2 tablespoons bacon or sausage drippings
• 1 can pinto beans or chili beans, drained
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt, to taste

Directions: Melt butter in a small pan and sauté onion and jalapeno until soft. Pour contents of pan into a microwave-safe dish. Add drained tomatoes and rice.

Melt drippings in a little hot water and add liquid from tomatoes. Add enough water to make 3 cups. Add to rice mixture and stir in beans, sugar, garlic, paprika, black pepper, and salt.

Microwave mixture for about 6 minutes until rice is cooked. Fluff with a fork. Douse with hot sauce or Tabasco sauce.