Moro de Habichuelas (Rice and Beans)

Moro de Habichuelas (Dominican Rice and Beans) is one of the most common dishes on the Dominican table, and you can modify it by using other types of beans.

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What is moro? Moro rice is a combination of rice and beans cooked into the same dish. Moro de Habichuelas is the most popular one in our country.

But Dominicans are not the only ones to make moro, in fact, this dish seems to exist in different incarnations in several Caribbean and Latin American nations. Of course, each country has its own flavor and combination of ingredients.

Take for example Cuba. The Cuban counterpart of this popular Dominican dish bears the name, "moros y cristianos" or Christians and Moors (a reminder of colonial times sensibilities) as it is still known in Cuba. It was shortened to moro in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, it is known as "ris et pois", and prepared with fewer ingredients than the Dominican one. In Jamaica, it is known as "rice and peas".

Different versions of Moro

Moro is a mixture of rice, and beans or pulses. But what qualifies as moro rice is very specific, as not all pulses can be part of a moro. At least not in our country.

This recipe is a generic one which can be made with red kidney beans, pinto or cranberry beans. It can also be modified by using either black beans, fava beans, butter beans, navy beans, or guandules (pigeon peas). There's also a lesser-known version called Moro-Locrio which is made by adding meat to a moro dish.

Our recipe of Moro de Habichuelas

Each household in the Dominican Republic probably has its own version of this dish, but the general concept of how to make Dominican rice and beans remains the same.

The addition of thyme to this recipe is owed to the fact that this is a very common ingredient in beans dishes in the Northwest DR, where I hail from. Feel free to adapt this recipe to your and your family's taste. And we'd love to hear what's different in yours.

Buen provecho!

Moro de Habichuelas Recipe (Dominican Rice and Beans)

Moro de Habichuelas Recipe (Dominican Rice and Beans): This is one of the most common dishes on the Dominican table. We are presenting here a generic moro version that you can modify by adding other types of beans or legumes.

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Course: Lunch

Cuisine: Dominican, Latino

Keyword: arroz con frijoles, arroz con habichuelas, moros y cristianos, ris et pois

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 636kcal

Recipe Author: Clara Gonzalez

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons of oil , divided
• 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon mashed garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon of dry thyme leaves , or a 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup of chopped celery
• 1/8 cup of sliced pitted olives (optional)
• 1 pinch of oregano
• 1/4 cup of diced cubanela (cubanelle) peppers
• 1/8 cup of capers (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce
• 2 cups of soft-boiled or canned kidney beans
• 2 teaspoons of salt (or more, to taste)
• 5 cups water
• 4 cups of rice

Instructions

• Heat half the oil (2.5 Tbsp) in an iron pot over low heat and add cilantro, garlic, thyme, celery, olives, oregano, cubanela, capers. Cook and stir for a minute, or until the ingredients release their aroma. Stir in the tomato sauce.
• Add beans, also while stirring, add season with salt. Once heated through, add water and bring to the boil (try the mixture and add salt to taste before proceeding, bear in mind that the rice will absorb some of the salt, so don't low-ball it).
• Stir in the rice and simmer stirring frequently to avoid excessive sticking. Make sure to remove the rice that sticks to the bottom.
• When the water has evaporated cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes have passed uncover, add the remaining oil and stir.
• Cover again another 5 minutes. After this the rice should be firm but tender inside. If necessary, cover and leave another 5 minutes over very low heat (if at this point it looks too dry add 1/4 cup of boiling water before stirring and covering.
• Serve with meat, (or seafood), a side dish and salad.

Notes

If you boil the beans yourself use the water in which they boiled in place of (or partially) the 6 cups of water called for in the recipe. If you use canned beans throw away the liquid in which they came in the can and use fresh water. The liquid in the can is loaded with sodium and doesn't taste very well.

Moro rice goes better with braised meats with plenty of "sauce". We suggest chicken or beef. And for a vegan moro meal, you can't go wrong with our cabbage dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 636kcal | Carbohydrates: 113g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 967mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 6.2mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2.8mg

Arroz moro recipe in other countries

• Mexican Moros y Cristianos
• Cuban Moros y Cristianos
• Ecuadorian Moro de Lentejas (Spanish)