Do you crave the flavors of Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine but also want to keep it healthy and light? I’ve got you! You really have to try my refried beans and rice bowl recipe.
This little beauty of a bowl is crammed full of fresh and colorful veg and then the whole lot is topped with salsa and my very own recipe for smoky Cajun sauce.
The refried beans in this recipe can be as healthy as you choose them to be. If you select a brand that contains a small amount of olive oil you won’t have to add any to the pot when you reheat them.
In addition to being a great source of plant-based protein, beans also provide vitamin C, iron, vitamin B-6, calcium and magnesium.
Fun fact: Did you know that refried beans aren’t actually beans that have been fried twice? They’re called “frijoles refritos” in Spanish, and while you might assume that translates to “refried”, it actually means “well fried”.
Feel free to play around with the mix of veggies in this bowl. My favorites are sweet potatoes and corn kernels but the possibilities are endless – why not try some crushed pineapple? A bit of guacamole instead of plain avocado? A little grated carrot perhaps!
If you make this refried beans and rice bowl, let me know how it turns out for you and what your favorite veggie selection is.
Refried Beans and Rice Bowl with Veggies and Smoky Cajun Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Cups brown or white rice
- 1 15 ounce can refried beans
- 1 sweet potato cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 avocado scooped from skin and chopped
- 1 large tomato diced
- 1/2 red onion diced
- 1 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup smoky cajun sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- lime slices for garnish
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cook the rice according to the rice cooker or package
- Spread the sweet potato out on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
- Make the smoky cajun sauce.
- Heat the refried beans in a small pot.
- Cook the frozen corn according to the package.
- Assemble the bowl- Place a scoop of rice in the bowl. Add the fresh spinach. Add scoops of the refried beans, sweet potato, corn, tomato, avocado, red onion, and salsa going clockwise around the bowl.
- Drizzle with smoky cajun sauce.
- Sprinkle the chopped fresh cilantro over and garnish with a lime slice.
