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, satisfying 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 oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sofrito and cook until fragrant. Stir in the cooked beans.
Once heated through, fold in the rice. Mix well and let it sit undisturbed for a minute or two so the rice crisps up a bit.
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 the rice is too dry, add broth to moisten it. 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