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We are going on vacation with Cuban Black Beans and Rice with Roasted Peppers and Plantains! A mix of Cuban-style black beans, rice, roasted vegetables, and crispy baked plantains, this nourishing, richly flavored rice and beans turned nourishing, all-in-one meal is my way of bringing you a dreamy, sun-soaked beach vacation, wherever you may be.

Nourishing Cuban Black Beans and Rice Bowls with baked plantains (tostones), roasted vegetables, and avocado. Packed with authentic Cuban flavors and ingredients. A healthy, filling, all-in-one recipe that’s vegan and gluten free!

In my case, the “wherever” is Wisconsin, a few thousand miles north of the Florida escape Ben and I originally were slated to take this weekend.

Unfortunately, he had to have an unplanned foot surgery, and since neither of us could picture him crutching down the beach, we decided to save our trip for a later date.

I originally booked our tickets at 11:45 p.m. from the comfort of my bed. It had started snowing for the umpteenth time, I logged on, and in a moment I can only describe as GET ME OUT OF HERE, we wound up with two discount plane tickets to Miami.

My brilliant late-night idea: we’d get a much-needed escape from the (still) cold Wisconsin weather and soak up some Vitamin D, all while eating copious amounts of Cuban food. At any hour, it was the perfect plan!

Since missing vacation is a bummer, I decided to bring my personal favorite part of vacation home to us: THE FOOD!

I took a classic recipe, Cuban Black Beans and Rice, and turned it into a meal “bowl” by piling it high with roasted vegetables, crispy baked plantains to mimic the Caribbean classic tostones, and then added an avocado to make it a complete meal.

Cuban Black Beans and Rice with Roasted Peppers and Plantains. Packed with flavor and great for meal prep!

I may have to wait until visiting Miami to try true authentic Cuban black beans and rice, but for now, this recipe is my way of making up for one of the parts of the trip we were looking forward to most: a food tour of Little Havana, a Miami neighborhood with strong Cuban and Central and South American roots.

While this recipe is probably not something you’d find on an authentic Cuban restaurant menu (if I do when we finally take our trip, I’ll let you know), the spices and ingredients are true to traditional Cuban cuisine.

As much as I adore black beans and Cuban rice (especially since these Instant Pot Black Beans came into my life), I wanted to transform rice and beans into an all-in-one meal.

Delicious Cuban Black Beans and Rice bowl with roasted veggies, baked plantains, and avocado.

How to Make This Cuban Black Beans and Rice

Also, this all-in-one adaptation of Cuban Black Beans and Rice is healthy and DELICIOUS. I love all of the different textures and spices. This meal is truly a win in the feels great/tastes great department.

The Ingredients

  • Black Beans. High in fiber and protein, they make this dish filling.
  • Plantains. For even more texture, I added baked plantains.
  • Red Bell Peppers + Red Onion. I settled on roasted red peppers and onions for the veggies, which tasted fabulous with the spiced beans.
  • Spices. Salt, cumin, allspice, oregano, and garlic added the perfect amount of flavor.
  • Jalapeno. A bit of spice.
  • Tomato Paste. For deep, delicious flavor.
  • Toppings. I finished my beans and rice off with lots of colorful chopped radishes, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
Roasted peppers and onions are an easy way to make these Cuban black bean and rice bowls a complete meal.

What are Plantains?

If you’ve never had a plantain, it’s that thing that looks like a giant banana that’s usually found in the grocery store next to the normal bananas.

The two, while similar in appearance, taste completely different. Plantains are starchy (in a good way) and range from green (unripe) to black (very ripe).

Using green plantains is traditional and will give you a bewitchingly addictive “chip” effect.

I equally adore roasted ripe plantains, which are much sweeter. This Cuban Black Beans and Rice recipe calls for the plantains to be ripe, but if you only have green plantains, they’re delicious served on the side.

If you’ve never peeled a plantain before, I recommend checking out the Pioneer Woman’s tips for how to peel plantains. Buy the biggest, fattest plantains you can find and be patient. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it.

Baked plantains (like tostones!) are a great topping for the Cuban black beans and rice bowls.

For those with dietary concerns, Cuban Black Beans and Rice are vegan, gluten free, and nut free too, so all can enjoy. I can totally see them happening for a fun, unique dinner party. “Build Your Own Cuban Beans and Rice Bowls.” I’d dive in!

How to Store, Reheat, and Freeze Cuban Beans and Rice

  • To Store. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • To Reheat. Reheat gently in the microwave until warmed through.
  • To Freeze. The beans and rice can be frozen for up to 3 months. To best enjoy frozen leftovers, I recommend letting the beans and rice thaw overnight in the refrigerator and making a fresh batch of roasted vegetables and plantains.

These Cuban Beans and Rice work well for meal prep also.

The next day for lunch, I stirred the leftover veggies, rice, and black beans together in a bowl, popped it into the microwave, and then topped it with avocado. Delish and a total upgrade to my midday routine!

Cuban Black Beans and Rice with roasted vegetables and plantains. A delicious dinner or meal prep with authentic Cuban flavor!

From Wisconsin with love, a little piece of vacation.

Cuban Black Beans and Rice with Roasted Peppers and Plantains

4.89 from 9 votes
A fresh twist on authentic Cuban Black Beans and Rice with baked plantains (tostones), roasted vegetables, and avocado. A healthy, filling all-in-one meal that’s vegan and gluten free!

Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 50 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Cuban Bean Bowls:

  • 1 cup uncooked brown rice
  • 2 very large ripe plantains almost black (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices
  • 2 large red bell peppers or yellow or orange bell peppers, cut into 3/4-inch slices and halved
  • 1 small red onion cut into rough 3/4-inch pieces
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
  • 3 teaspoons ground cumin divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice divided
  • 1 small jalapeño seeded and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic minced (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 3 cups  Cuban Black Beans so good!, or if you are in a hurry, 2 (15-ounce) cans low-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained

Toppings (definitely grab a few of these!):

  • Sliced radishes
  • Diced avocado
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Lime wedges

Instructions
 

  • Cook rice according to package directions.
  • While the rice cooks, place racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the plantain slices in the center of one baking sheet and the bell peppers and red onion in the center of the other. Drizzle each baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/4 teaspoon allspice over the plantains. Toss the plantains and vegetables to coat, then spread each into an even layer. Bake in the upper and lower thirds of the oven until the plantains are lightly browned and very tender and the vegetables are caramelized and tender, about 16 to 18 minutes for the plantains and 20 minutes for the vegetables, switching the pans’ position on the upper and lower racks once halfway through.
  • While the rice, plantains, and vegetables cook, heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the jalapeño and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, oregano, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir in the black beans and 1/4 cup water. Cook until the liquid is slightly reduced and the beans are hot, about 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
  • Divide the cooked rice evenly among 4 bowls. Top each with beans, roasted plantains and vegetables, a big handful each of sliced radishes, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Notes

  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave. The beans and rice can be frozen for up to 3 months. To best enjoy frozen leftovers, I recommend letting the beans and rice thaw overnight in the refrigerator and making a fresh batch of roasted vegetables and plantains.
  • PLANTAIN TIPS: I liked this recipe best with ripe plantains, but if yours are still green or even yellow/green, you can still make this recipe. Just know they will be more hard and crisp like a potato chip versus more tender and sweet. If you’ve never peeled a plantain, despite similar appearances, they do not peel like a banana. Be sure to check out this guide to save yourself a lot of aggravation!

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4), without toppingsCalories: 593kcalCarbohydrates: 113gProtein: 16gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gFiber: 21gSugar: 15g

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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16 Comments

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  1. hey girl- that’s a bummer y’all can’t go to Miami. At least you can have this food- it looks so yummy!

  2. One of the best blog recipes I’ve ever tried! It was so filling and the flavors were unexpected and delicious. Looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!5 stars

    1. Georgia, I am so so glad you went for it and gave it a try!! Thanks for taking time to leave this lovely review.

  3. I can’t wait to try it! We live in Northern Illinois, so I feel your winter pain! I hope you get to go to Miami soon. I was lucky to get away to Havana, Cuba on a cruise last week, and was searching for recipes to help me relive my vacation. Thank you!

  4. Made this tonight and loved it! My fiance loved it even more. Fantastic mix of hearty, healthy, flavorful goodness. I made the cuban black beans from scratch in my InstantPot as you recommend, and I included all of the toppings – so delicious. Turned out that one of my plantains was super ripe and the other not so much, and the very ripe one turned out way better – I’d recommend waiting to make this until your plantains are very, very ripe (which also makes them way easier to peel!). Thanks again for a delicious recipe!5 stars

    1. YAY! I’m so happy you loved this recipe, Anna! Thank you for taking the time to try this recipe and for sharing this kind review!

  5. This is my favorite recipe I have tried from your site so far! This is serious soul food for me. I’m part Cuban and grew up eating a lot of black beans and rice. This is definitely different from the way my family does it but it is SO GOOD. It’s been a recipe my husband and I have come back to over and over. Seasoning is great. This is a hearty meal that doesn’t make me feel too guilty.5 stars

    1. This MADE my day! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Marina! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!

  6. Made this recipe for dinner tonight, didn’t change or substitute anything. Holy moly, it was so good. Definitely a keeper. 5 stars