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Vegetarian, Americas

Habichuelas guisadas with rice

Habichuelas guisadas is a Caribbean dish of red beans simmered with squash, sofrito and cilantro, served over white rice. This recipe serves 4, takes 50 minutes, stays easy to make and costs €1.70 per serving. The key is letting the squash break down into the sauce so it thickens naturally without any flour.

A Caribbean classic, red beans simmered with squash and sofrito, served over white rice.

Habichuelas guisadas with rice
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.70
Calories per person
580 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

This dish comes straight from the Caribbean, a red bean stew where squash slowly breaks down into a tomatoey sauce seasoned with sofrito and oregano. The texture turns silky, almost creamy, with a light kick from the green pepper and fresh cilantro that brightens everything right before serving.

It's a solid weeknight meal, quick to put together with pantry staples you likely already have on hand. Kids tend to love this mild sauce over rice, and you can easily scale it up to feed the whole family without spending your evening in the kitchen.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned red kidney beansoften in the pantry 800 g
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Oreganooften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Butternut or kabocha squash 300 g
  • Onion 1
  • Green bell pepper 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Cilantro 1 bunch

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel the squash and cut it into small cubes, chop the onion, bell pepper, garlic and half the cilantro.

    Cut the cubes about an inch wide, they'll soften into the sauce without turning mushy.

  2. Cook the sofrito in the oil with the tomato paste and oregano. 8 min

    The paste should caramelize slightly, it deepens the flavor of the sauce.

  3. Add the squash cubes, the beans with their liquid and a glass of water, salt and pepper.

    Keep the liquid from the can, it gives the sauce body.

  4. Let it simmer gently until the squash is tender and the sauce has thickened. 25 min

    Mash some of the squash against the pot to thicken the sauce without flour.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water and serve the beans on top, sprinkled with cilantro. 11 min

    Rinse the rice before cooking, it will turn out lighter.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a squash that's ripe and firm, it holds its shape better while still breaking down partly into the sauce.
  • If the sauce still looks thin at the end, let it simmer uncovered a few more minutes instead of reaching for flour.
  • Make a double batch of sofrito next time and freeze the extra in portions, it saves you time for your next pot.

The variations

  • Swap the butternut squash for pumpkin or sweet potato, you'll get the same soft, melting texture.
  • Brown some diced chorizo or bacon with the sofrito if you want a richer, non vegetarian version.
  • For busy nights with kids, serve the sauce over pre-cooked rice and cut the simmering time to 15 minutes, mashing a bit more squash to thicken it faster.

What to serve it with

  • Sliced avocado on the side
  • Fried plantains
  • Lime squeezed over the rice

Storage

Habichuelas guisadas keep for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. The dish freezes well for up to 2 months, without the rice. Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can I use dried red beans instead of canned?

Yes, soak them overnight then cook for about 45 minutes before following the recipe. Keep some of their cooking water to replace the liquid from the can.

Can this dish be made ahead of time?

Yes, the sauce actually tastes better reheated the next day once the flavors have had time to blend. Just cook the rice fresh so it stays fluffy.

What can I use instead of squash?

Sweet potato or pumpkin work really well and give the sauce the same soft, melting texture. Avoid vegetables that stay too firm, like carrots.

What if the sauce turns out too thin?

Mash a few squash cubes against the side of the pot to thicken it naturally. You can also let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.

How long does it take to make habichuelas guisadas with rice?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in habichuelas guisadas with rice?

About 580 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does habichuelas guisadas with rice cost?

About €1.70 per serving, or €6.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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