Portuguese saucy rice and beans
Loose, savoury rice with red beans in a light tomato and onion broth.
⏱ Estimated time: 45 minutes🍽 Servings: 5🇵🇹 Portugal

Ingredients
- 300 g Portuguese short-grain rice
- 400 g cooked drained kidney beans
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 ripe tomatoes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 900 ml hot water or stock
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and parsley to taste
Step-by-step method
- Chop onion, garlic and tomatoes. Heat olive oil and slowly soften the onion with bay leaf.
- Add garlic and tomatoes and simmer until saucy.
- Stir in cooked beans and hot water or stock and bring to a simmer.
- Add the rice, stir once and cook over moderate heat 14–18 minutes, adding more liquid if needed to keep it brothy.
- Adjust salt, discard bay leaf and serve straight away with chopped parsley.
✦ Cooking tip
Portuguese short-grain rice absorbs broth quickly, so serve as soon as it is cooked.
A home-style version; regional and family variations are common. Check cooking times and food doneness before serving.