Mamposteao, a Puerto Rican Leftover Rice Comfort Food

Hands holding a clay bowl of Puerto Rican arroz mamposteao, rice mixed with beans and olives, garnished with fresh herbs.

5 from 1 vote

Mamposteao, a Puerto Rican Leftover Rice Comfort Food

Mamposteao is Puerto Rican comfort food at its best. This quick side dish transforms leftover rice and beans into a flavorful, satifying meal in minutes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Brunch, rice, Side Dish, side dishes

Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Cooking Technique: sauteing

Servings: servings

Calories: 56kcal

Author: Zoé Forestier

Equipment

1 non-stick pan

Ingredients

1 tablespoon achiote oil
½ cup cooked stewed beans
1 cup cooked white rice
2 tablespoon tomato sofrito or sofrito and 1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 clove roasted garlic optional
½ cup broth if needed to moisten

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sofrito and cook until fragrant
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sofrito and cook until fragrant. Stir in the cooked beans.
Let the rice sit in the pan for a few minutes before serving—those crispy bits at the bottom are the best part. Taste and add sazon or adobo if needed.
If rice is too dry, add a broth to moisten. Serve hot as a side or light meal.

Notes

Top Tip

Use cold, day-old rice for the best texture. Fresh rice can get gummy and clump together, but it will work in a pinch.

Expert Tips

- Don't rush the sofrito: Let it cook until it smells amazing and slightly darkens in color, that's flavor.

- Use a wide pan: It gives the rice more room to heat evenly and crisp up just a bit.

- Taste before adding salt: If your beans were well-seasoned, you might not need much. Remember, we are using leftover rice and beans.

- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  - - To reheat: add a splash of water and warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat.
  - - Freezing: Place in the fridge and let cool completely before freezing. Place in a ziplock bag and flatten for freezing. This will help when it is time to thaw it out. Use within 1 month and reheat directly from frozen.

Nutrition