Brazilian Sweet Banana and Rice Dish

This is a Brazilian dish that has an odd ingredient, bananas. The bananas are almost a dessert on their own but are eaten along with rice in a dish that can be varied to one’s taste.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 50 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups lemon juice
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon rum
• 6 ripe bananas, halved lengthwise
• 7 cups water
• 3 ½ cups brown rice
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 2 (4 ounce) links sausage
• 2 pinches dried dill
• 2 pinches dried basil

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Combine lemon juice, sugar, butter, and rum in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
3. Arrange bananas cut-side down in the baking dish. Pour enough sauce over bananas to cover, reserving any extra sauce for serving.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until bananas are soft and sticky, about 30 minutes.
5. Bring water and brown rice to a boil in another saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes.
6. Combine black beans and diced tomatoes in a skillet over low heat; heat until warmed through, about 10 minutes.
7. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage links; cook, flipping often, until no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. Slice sausage into small pieces.
8. Scoop rice into a large bowl. Pour black beans on top. Sprinkle dill and basil on top. Add sausage; mix gently to combine. Serve bananas alongside.