I’m all about exploring different foods, textures and tastes for my son. While I love rice and beans, I made him a version thats texture accommodated his needs – something easy to eat and “chew.”

This version of rice and beans is almost like a thick stew. I couldn’t give my son beans that were just heated from the can, so I cooked them before the beans started to break down. There is a covering over the bean, and by cooking them the way I did, it was better for him to chew to swallow.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of black beans, lower sodium – not drained
• 1 cup white rice, fully cooked
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• Salt is optional

Directions:

You will need two separate small sauce pots for this. Begin by preparing your white rice. Follow the instructions, but I used 1/2 cup of white rice to 1 cup of water. The rice took 30 minutes to cook.

For the beans, in the other small pot, pour all the contents of the beans into the pot and bring to a boil. This takes 2-3 minutes. Next, add the seasoning and slowly boil on low-medium heat for 25 minutes.

Once the beans are cooked and so is the rice, add one cup of the cooked rice to the beans and mix well. Cool and serve to the little one and watch them enjoy [hopefully]!