Vegetarian Black Beans & Rice

I've been on a diet for the past two months and no one else in my family wants to eat what I eat, so most of my cooking has been for me alone. So, this particular recipe is a single serving, but of course it can be modified to feed more than one.

When you're on a diet, you don't get to enjoy Mexican food very often. Mexican food is usually lots of fried stuff, lots of cheese, and lots of chips -- all of which are off-limits on most diets. This recipe allows you to have Mexican food without the guilt; in fact, it's really very good for you! If you can eat something that's good for you and it tastes delicious, that's happiness for food addicts.

My husband would call this dish simply "Cilantro" because it has cilantro in it. Since he hates cilantro, it doesn't matter what else is in the dish -- all he sees is cilantro. If you don't like cilantro either, feel free to substitute a different fresh herb. :)

Ingredients:

1/2 C black beans
3/4 C brown rice
1/2 C chopped green pepper
2 TBSP medium salsa
1 TBSP low fat sour cream
Fresh chopped cilantro

Directions:

I cook my green peppers in a small skillet with some olive oil Pam cooking spray, then add them to a bowl with the beans, rice and salsa. I then microwave it for about two minutes on 50% power, then add the sour cream and cilantro.

Nutrition Information:

Calories - 325
Fat - 3g
Protein - 11.5g
Sodium - 230mg
Fiber - 8g

Tips:

I prepare a big pot of brown rice once a week and stick it in the refrigerator to give me healthy rice all week long, whenever I need it. If you have the time (and think you'll use them all), you can prepare your black beans that way as well. I buy the organic Full Circle brand of black beans, though, to save some time and after comparing all the labels, they seem to be the most nutritious.

When it comes to Mexican food, some people like it hot, hot, hot! If that's you, pick a hot salsa to give the dish some bite. I found that the medium one provided a good balance of bite and still being able to taste the ingredients. It's important to read labels when it comes to salsa, too. Find one low in sodium. Again, I prefer the organic Full Circle brand.

Now I know most of you are thinking, how can this be Mexican food when there's no cheese? If you'd prefer cheese instead of the sour cream, feel free to make that substitution. I found that the sour cream gave me that "decadent" feel, which is what I miss most while on a diet. If you choose cheese, read labels and find one low in fat.

If this dish doesn't feel like it's enough food when you've got it prepared, an easy way to add bulk without adding calories is to put it on a bed of lettuce.