Brazilian Feijoada-Style Beans and Rice

Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) canned black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 medium onion
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 small bay leaf(optional)
• 1/4 tsp salt(optional)
• 1/8 tsp black pepper(optional)
• 1/2 cup water or low-sodium broth(optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep (10 minutes): Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the black beans.

2. 2

   Cook (35 minutes): In a pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

3. 3

   Add the smoked paprika, bay leaf (if using), beans, and water/broth. Simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens.

4. 4

   Mash about 1/3 of the beans with the back of a spoon to create a feijoada-style texture. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and simmer 9 minutes more.

5. 5

   Serve: Spoon the bean mixture over the cooked rice.