Easy Homemade Spanish Rice (Made with Banza Chickpea Rice)

This Easy Homemade Spanish Rice is absolutely delicious and loaded with flavors. It’s also rich in protein making it an ideal side dish for dinner or a light lunch. Made with Banza rice that is made out of chickpeas. This twist on a classic dish is super easy to make and comes together in no time. Perfect meal for any day of the week!

Easy Homemade Spanish Rice

This Easy Homemade Spanish Rice is full of flavors and loaded with protein. Make it as a side dish for dinner or for a light lunch. It can be paired with almost any other food. Have it with chicken, steak, tacos, or with a fried egg on top. Which ever way you decide to have it, it will be delicious.

This particular recipe calls for Banza’s Chickpea Rice. This rice has an amazing texture and a great amount of protein. It also has more fiber and less carbs than regular rice. In addition to the protein and fiber in this rice, this recipe calls for black beans. Black beans are also rich in both protein and fiber.

Meal prepping? Cooking for a large croud? Taco Tuesday? Whatever the occassion is, this rice will be great. It’s made with fresh ingredients and comes together in no time.

Ingredients needed to make Easy Homemade Spanish Rice:

• Banza Rice made from chickpeas- This rice has an amazing texture and a great amout of protein. It also has more fiber and less carbs than regular rice.
• Diced tomatoes– An essential ingredient in any Spanish rice recipe.
• Yellow Onion and Garlic– Aromatics that give so much flavor to this rice.
• Corn– Will add texture and sweetness to the rice.
• Black beans– Essential part of any Spanish rice recipe and add more protein and fiber.
• Spices and Herbs- Classic flavors such as cumin, chili powder, oregano, paprika, pink sea salt and black pepper.
• Lime Juice– Elevates the flavor.
• Fresh Cilantro– Just to garnish. Can omit if you’d like.

Equipment needed to make Easy Homemade Spanish Rice:

• Large pot– To cook everything in.
• Large Mixing Bowl- To keep cooked Banza chickpea rice in while the rest if ingredients are being cooked through.
• Small mixing bowl– For mixing all spices and herbs in.

How to make Easy Homemade Spanish Rice:

• Step 1– Fill up a large pot with about 8 cups of water. Place on stovetop and sprinkle with salt. Bring to a boil and add in your Banza chickpea rice. Turn heat down to low and allow rice to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Drain chickpea rice using a fine mesh strainer. Transfer to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Set aside.
• Step 2– While water for rice is coming to a boil, prep the rest of your ingredients; finely dice onion and finely mince garlic. Drain and rinse black beans and corn. Finely chop some fresh cilantro for garnish if desired. In a small mixing bowl, combine all your spices and herbs; cumin, pink sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, oregano, and paprika. 

• Step 3– Once chickpea rice is done, place back pot on stovetop. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and bring to a heat on high heat. Toss in diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 2 minutes until onion becomes translucent. 
• Step 4– Add in black beans and corn. Continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes. While black beans and corn are sautéing sprinkle with your spices and herbs mixture. Give everything a good toss making sure everything is combined well with spices and herbs. 

• Step 5– Stir in diced tomatoes and again make sure everything is well combined. Bring heat to low at this point. Drizzle lime juice and give everything a good stir. Allow for mixture to simmer for about 3-5 minutes. 

• Step 6– Stir in cooked Banza chickpea rice making sure the rice is well covered with the rest of ingredients. Remove Homemade Spanish Rice from heat and garnish with fresh cilantro. 
• Step 7– Serve immediately while still hot. Enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Make with regular rice– You can also make this recipe by using regular rice such as jasmine rice or brown rice. 
2. Substitute for black beans– Pinto, Kidney, Red or White beans make for great substitutes for black beans.
3. Try Chipotle Tomato Rice for more flavor– Use Banza’s chipotle tomato chickpea rice in this recipe rather than plain chickpea rice for more flavor. 
4. Add more protein– Add some shredded chicken, tofu, or cooked shrimp for more added protein.

What to serve Easy Homemade Spanish Rice with:

• Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas
• Slow Cooker Carne Asada Tacos
• Best and Easiest Homemade Guacamole
• Grilled Street Corn Salad

How to prepare Banza chickpea rice per package instructions:

Making Banza chickpea rice is pretty quick and easy:

1. Start off by placing a medium saucepan on stovetop. Pour in 6 cups of water or broth of preference (vegetable, chicken, beef, etc.) and sprinkle with a generous amount of salt. Stir then bring to a boil on high heat. 
2. Reduce heat to a simmer and add in your Banza chickpea rice.
3. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes stirring occasionally. You will probably see some foam form. This is normal. 
4. Use a fine mesh strainer to drain rice. Return chickpea rice to the pot. 
5. Stir in about 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter to prevent chickpea rice from sticking together. Use a fork to fluff rice. 
6. Serve and enjoy!

Easy Homemade Spanish Rice (Made with Banza Chickpea Rice) FAQ’s:

Why eat Banza rice?

Banza chickpea rice is a great alternative to regular rice. It has twice the protein, 35% fewer net carbs, and 5x the fiber as other varieties of rice. 

Is Banza rice actually healthy?

Banza rice is pretty healthy. It contains less calories, sodium and carbs than traditional white rice. It also contains a higher amount of protein and fiber. 

How do you cook Banza rice?

Banza rice is pretty easy to make. Just boil some water and add in your rice. It is ready in less than 5 minutes and can be served in any way you would serve traditional white rice. 

How many cups of water for Banza rice?

You need 6 cups of water to cook one 8 oz package of Banza chickpea rice. 

Where can I buy Banza rice?

You can order Banza rice directly from their website. You can also find this chickpea rice at many retail and grocery stores like Target, Walmart and Whole Foods. If you go here you can look up a store near you that carries Banza chickpea rice. 

How to store your Easy Homemade Spanish Rice:

Store your Easy Homemade Spanish Rice in the fridge for up 3-4 days. Serve in an airtight container or serve in separate Tupperware portioned out for ready-to-go lunches.

Meal Prepping it:

This rice is perfect to make as part as your meal prep. It’s a flavorful rice and makes for a great side dish to most meals. Make it with chicken, beef, tacos, etc. This rice is also great to have as a light lunch. Have it as is with some avocado on top or even throw a fried egg on top. So many ways you can have this rice, it’s easy and quick to make, and packs all the flavors!

Like this Easy Homemade Spanish Rice? You may also like these other rice recipes:

• Instant Pot Cajun Chicken and Rice
• Shrimp Fried Rice
• Easy Chicken Fried Rice
• Turmeric Chicken and Rice
• Kimchi Fried Rice

Print

Easy Homemade Spanish Rice

This Easy Homemade Spanish Rice is absolutely delicious and loaded with flavors. It's also rich in protein making it an ideal side dish for dinner or a light lunch. Made with Banza rice that is made out of chickpeas. This twist on a classic dish is super easy to make and comes together in no time. Perfect meal for any day of the week!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword Banza Chickpea Rice Recipes, Homemade Spanish Rice

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 225 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

• 8 oz Banza Chickpea Rice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 15 oz canned black beans
• 15 oz canned corn
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp pink sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp paprika
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
• 1-2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• finely chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill up a large pot with about 8 cups of water. Place on stovetop and sprinkle with salt. Bring to a boil and add in your Banza chickpea rice. Turn heat down to low and allow rice to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Drain chickpea rice using a fine mesh strainer. Transfer to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Set aside.

2. While water for rice is coming to a boil, prep the rest of your ingredients; finely dice onion and finely mince garlic. Drain and rinse black beans and corn. Finely chop some fresh cilantro for garnish if desired. In a small mixing bowl, combine all your spices and herbs; cumin, pink sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, oregano, and paprika.

3. Once chickpea rice is done, place pot back on stovetop. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and bring to a heat on high heat. Toss in diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 2 minutes until onion becomes translucent.

4. Add in black beans and corn. Continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes. While black beans and corn are sautéing sprinkle with your spices and herbs mixture. Give everything a good toss making sure everything is combined well with spices and herbs.

5. Stir in diced tomatoes and again make sure everything is well combined. Bring heat to low at this point. Drizzle lime juice and give everything a good stir. Allow for mixture to simmer for about 3-5 minutes.

6. Stir in cooked Banza chickpea rice making sure the rice is well covered with the rest of ingredients. Remove Homemade Spanish Rice from heat and garnish with fresh cilantro.

7. Serve immediately while still hot. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

1. 1. Make with regular rice– You can also make this recipe by using regular rice such as jasmine rice or brown rice. 
   2. Substitute for black beans– Pinto, Kidney, Red or White beans make for great substitutes for black beans.
   3. Try Chipotle Tomato Rice for more flavor– Use Banza’s chipotle tomato chickpea rice in this recipe rather than plain chickpea rice for more flavor. 
   4. Add more protein– Add some shredded chicken or cooked shrimp for more added protein.

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Nutrition Facts

Easy Homemade Spanish Rice

Amount per Serving

Calories

225

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

5

g

8

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Sodium

 

797

mg

35

%

Potassium

 

601

mg

17

%

Carbohydrates

 

37

g

12

%

Fiber

 

9

g

38

%

Sugar

 

4

g

4

%

Protein

 

10

g

20

%

Vitamin A

 

468

IU

9

%

Vitamin C

 

12

mg

15

%

Calcium

 

85

mg

9

%

Iron

 

4

mg

22

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family. 

***Post originally published on August 14, 2019.