Puerto Rican-Style Black Bean and Rice Bowl with Sofrito

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-30 · Updated 2026-04-30

Hearty black beans simmered with a fragrant sofrito base, served over fluffy white rice for a classic Puerto Rican comfort dish. This caribbean-inspired rice & grains (vegetarian) ready in about 120 minutes pairs black beans, dried, water, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup black beans, dried
• 4 cups water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup cilantro stems, chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
• 3 cups water (for rice)
• 1 leaf bay leaf

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dried black beans and soak overnight or for at least 6 hours in water. Drain and rinse again.
2. Step 2: In a large pot, combine the soaked beans with 4 cups fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 1 hour or until beans are tender.
3. Step 3: In a skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped onion, 1 medium green bell pepper, and 1 medium red bell pepper, sautéing for 5-6 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro stems, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
6. Step 6: Transfer the sofrito mixture into the pot with the beans and simmer together for 20 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
7. Step 7: While beans simmer, rinse 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice under cold water until water runs clear.
8. Step 8: In a separate pot, bring 3 cups water and 1 bay leaf to a boil. Add the rice, stir once, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 18 minutes without lifting the lid.
9. Step 9: Remove bay leaf from rice and fluff with a fork.
10. Step 10: Serve the seasoned black beans over the fluffy white rice for a comforting Puerto Rican-inspired meal.