Easy Mexican Fried Rice

3 cups cooked brown rice (1 cup dry)
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup corn kernels
1 can black beans (rinsed)
1 cup salsa
cumin
red pepper flakes
seasoned salt
black pepper

Cook brown rice ahead of time (follow instructions on package - should be 1 cup rice to 2 cups water = 3 cups if you aren't using parboiled or minute). Should take about 40 minutes. While that's cooking fry up the ground beef in a large frying pan (you will be adding all other ingredients to the same pan). Add minced garlic, seasoned salt, pepper, cumin (to taste - however spicy you like it) and red pepper flakes (also added to taste - doesn't take many of these to add alot of kick). If you prefer to use a packet of taco seasoning you can but I don't know if that will make a calorie difference. I used to use taco seasoning and it tasted great but I am trying to get away from packaged food and preservatives. When meat is done, scoop it out of pan and into a bowl but leave the leftover grease in pan (if you used 90/10 beef there shouldn't be much). When rice is done, put it in the pan and fry it up in the little bit of left over grease. Five minutes or so should do it - keep stirring so none gets burned. Add corn (if using frozen you'll need to put the pan on low and cover for about 5 minutes to let it steam). Canned corn should heat through quickly. Add rinsed black beans at the same time. Add ground beef back in and let all cook together for a few minutes until all food is heated through. Add one cup of salsa and mix in well.


Optional: serve with a sprinkle of cheese and light sour cream or plain greek yogurt (neither of these are included in calorie totals)

Makes either 8 or 4 servings.
4 servings = 1 3/4 cups per person
8 = just under a cup per person

Number of Servings: 8

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user NATURALSOAPGIRL.