This Creamy Rice with Beans & Peppers, known in Spain as Arroz Meloso con Alubias y Pimientos, is truly what classic Spanish food is all about. It´s made with heart-healthy ingredients, packed with flavors and all done in just 40 minutes.
You can serve this rice dish as a main course or even as a side dish, next to some grilled fish and a garden salad. Either way, enjoy this dish with a crunchy baguette and a bottle of Spanish wine for the ultimate dining experience.
To make this recipe I used Spanish round rice. Which is the one that is typically used to make paella. You can substitute it for any type of short-grain rice or even arborio rice. The famous Italian rice that´s used to make risotto.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: Once you add the liquid into the pan, mix the rice every 2 to 3 minutes. This will help release the starch in the rice, which is what gives this dish that beautiful creamy texture.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
SAFFRON I USED
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make Creamy Rice with Beans & Peppers
Creamy Spanish Rice with Beans & Peppers
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 60 ml
- 1 onion
- 8 cloves garlic
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1/2 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 1.25 grams
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 cup Spanish round rice 200 grams
- 15.5 oz can white beans 440 grams
- 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1 liter
- 1/2 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
- fresh parsley
Instructions
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Add the broth into a sauce pan, pinch in the saffron and heat with a medium heat
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Meanwhile, roughly chop the onion, cut the cloves of garlic into large chunks and the red bell peppers into bite-sized pieces
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Heat a large fry pan or stock pot with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
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After a couple of minutes add in the chopped vegetables, mix with the olive oil, after 5 minutes and the vegetables are lightly sauteed, add in the paprika, quickly mix together, then add in the tomatoes finely grated and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together and then simmer
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Once the grated tomato has thickened, about 3 minutes, add in the rice, continue to mix together, after 2 minutes add in the canned white beans (drained & rinsed) and the saffron infused broth, mix every 2 to 3 minutes to help release the starch from the rice
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After 15 to 18 minutes and the rice is just cooked through and there is still plenty of broth left, remove from the heat and place a lid on the pan, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then transfrer into shallow bowls and garnish with fresh parsley, serve at once, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Saffron Threads I Used to Make this Recipe
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Michele
06 . Dec . 2023This turned out perfectly! Spanish partner and half-Spanish kids really enjoyed it and said it reminded them of paella. Thank you for a great recipe!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
06 . Dec . 2023Eileen Gamble-Deacon
12 . Jul . 2023So tasty we really enjoyed this can’t wait to try your other recipes they all look delicious
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
12 . Jul . 2023Camilla davies
This was by far the best Spanish rice dish I’ve made so far. Thank you! It will be one of my favourites to make.
30 . Jun . 2023Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
30 . Jun . 2023Ulrich
27 . Jun . 2023We made this recipe and had to replace beans with chick peas. It worked surprisingly well. Much love and respect Ulrich
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
27 . Jun . 2023Caroline
Can this be made using less oil?
24 . Jun . 2023Spain on a Fork
Absolutely, the olive oil is the base fat of the dish and helps give it a bigger depth of flavor, however, you can add less if you like 🙂 Much love
25 . Jun . 2023Iris Pema
Thank you for sharing your great cooking!
24 . Jun . 2023Spain on a Fork
Thanks for the comment! Much love 🙂
25 . Jun . 2023Sandy Fothergill-Robinson
VEGETABLE BROTH RECIPE
PLEASE GIVE TO ME
I LOVE TO FIX AND ESPECIALLY COOK YOUR WONDERFUL RECIPIES,,OUTSTANDING
I LIVED IN NERJA SPAIN 10 YEARS…MISS IT AND YOUR COOKING TAKES ME BACK, NOW AM IN UK
24 . Jun . 2023Spain on a Fork
Here is the recipe to my homemade vegetable broth:
25 . Jun . 2023https://spainonafork.com/how-to-easily-make-your-own-vegetable-broth-at-home/
bonnie warner
This looks delicious! Would you be able to freeze it?
23 . Jun . 2023Spain on a Fork
Yes you can, you will just need to add in more liquid when reheating to get that creamy texture back 🙂 Much love
23 . Jun . 2023Neil
23 . Jun . 2023this is just a general 5 star rating as i love the simplicity of so many recipies…
Spain on a Fork
Appreciate the comment! Much love 🙂
23 . Jun . 2023Ramya
Csnt wait to make this soon for me can i skip red bell peppers as am not a big fan of red bell peppers i never had creamy rice with beans and peppers before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
23 . Jun . 2023Spain on a Fork
Sounds great Ramya! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
23 . Jun . 2023