A few things I’ve been taking advantage of during quarantine: the fact that I have more time to cook and that my family is in the house ALL the time. The result? These burrito bowls that only require a small amount of most ingredients, can be made with some basic staples I hope we’ve all been relying on (like beans!), and are perfect for the whole family to get a little creative with dinner.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to make a family fun calendar, so we ended up doing something fun almost every night of spring break. Now that school has started for me, our calendar isn’t as flexible. But life can get boring when you’re stuck inside all the time with limited social interaction, so we still try to do something every now and then! Some of our ideas are food-related, while others aren’t. You’d be surprised by how much you can come up with if you sit down and make a list.
Regardless, eating well is one of those activities that everyone in my family is always down for. In my opinion, the secret to turning a regular weeknight dinner into a special occasion is by making something that isn’t what you usually eat and that everyone in the family can add their own twist to.
Anyways… back to burrito bowls. I understand that everyone’s pantry is probably stocked with different ingredients at this time, so I’ve included alternatives in addition to what I made to inspire your next family fun night (or solo fun afternoon because bowls are good at any time).
Spicy Black Beans
Judging by the title of this post, you can bet these black beans were the star of this bowl. I’m sure everyone knows by now that beans are highly recommended for stockpiling during quarantine, and for good reason! They last a long time, are super versatile, and are a great source of protein and nutrients. I used dry black beans in this recipe, but you can also use canned black beans!
Spicy Black Beans
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups dry black beans (if subbing with one can, divide other ingredients in this recipe by 3)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp red chili powder
- 1 onion any color should work fine
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper, chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric optional
Instructions
- Soak black beans in water overnight or for 4-6 hours.
- Add black beans to a pot, add water that is 3-inches higher than the beans, and boil beans until cooked. Approximately 1 hour.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add all ingredients except for the black beans to oil: garlic, cumin, jalapeno, onion, chili powder, turmeric, and carrots. Stir ingredients occasionally for about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat and add black beans.
- Spread all ingredients throughout the beans and add salt & pepper.
Alternatives
Literally any other beans or lentils you have at hand. Kidney beans or chickpeas would work well!
Fajita Veggies
You can basically add any veggies you want here with any spices you want! Typical fajita veggies are usually bell peppers and onions, but I also added mushrooms.
Ingredients
1 green bell pepper
2 mushrooms
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 onion
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/3 jalapeno
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Follow the same instructions as the black beans. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat and proceed to add garlic, onions, and spices. Later add the veggies, salt, and pepper. Stir occasionally and it should be done in about 8-10 minutes.
Alternatives
More veggie ideas: cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, anything else you want!
Air Fried Plantains
Ingredients
2 plantains, sliced diagonally
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp salt
light sprinkle of olive oil
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for a few minutes. Air fry at 380 F for 10 minutes.
Alternatives
No plantains? No air fryer? No problem. We happened to have plantains sitting around, but this recipe would also work well made in an oven with regular bananas, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash.
Salsas and Sauces
So many options for this part! I decided to make tomato-based salsa, mango salsa, and good ol’ guacamole. All of the recipes just require mixing the ingredients together.
Garlic Guacamole
Ingredients
1/2 avocado, mashed with a fork
1/4 tomato, chopped into small pieces
1/2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 jalapeno pepper
cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste
Mango Salsa
Ingredients
1/4 cup mango, slightly softened in the microwave
small amounts of jalapeno pepper and white onion
Other optional add-ons: red chili and cilantro
Tomato-Cucumber Salsa
Ingredients
1 tomato, chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 tbsp lime juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt & pepper to taste
And there ya have it – a healthy burrito bowl perfect for all sorts of taste buds and your next family dinner. Hope everyone is taking the time to enjoy the simple things during quarantine!
