Arroz Mamposteao is a flavorful Puerto Rican rice dish made with leftover white rice, stewed beans, sofrito, bacon and spices that creates the most flavorful rice. Perfect side dish for pork chops, steak, or chicken.
Arroz mamposteao is a Puerto Rican rice dish that was born out of convenience or rather a way to take yesterday’s leftovers of arroz blanco (white rice) and habichuelas guisadas (stewed beans) and turn it into something new and different. You toss it all together in a pan, stir it up with some add ins like green peppers, onions, garlic, smoky bacon and a few spices. You then have an entirely new dinner to serve your family. It’s easy, delicious, incredibly tasty, and defintely one of my favorite ways to use some leftovers.
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Ingredients You Will Need
- cooked white rice
- cooked red beans
- green or red pepper
- red or white onions
- garlic
- fresh cilantro
- scallions
- soy sauce
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements and instructions.
Step by Step Instructions
Cook the Bacon. Place bacon in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until golden brown and crispy. Remove bacon and place on paper towel lined plate. Chop into small pieces. Drain all but 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease from pan. Set aside.
Sauté the Vegetables. Add peppers and onions to the pan and cook until onions are translucent. Add bacon, garlic and scallions and cook approximately 1 minute while stirring (image 1).
Add Beans and Rice. Add the soy sauce and the beans to the pan and stir well (image 2). Add rice and begin stirring all ingredients together until rice grains are evenly coated (images 3 and 4) .
Finish the Rice. Add cilantro and stir well (image 5 and 6). Allow rice to continue cooking over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, for a creamier texture. If you like your rice drier, cook an additional 10 minutes. Serve rice immediately.
What to Serve with Arroz Mamposteao
This rice is so good you could just eat it alone but in Puerto Rico, we love to pair it with quite a few different protein options.
- bistec encebollado (cube steaks with onions)
- bistec en salsa (cube steaks in tomato sauce)
- chuletas fritas (Puerto Rican fried pork chops)
- palomilla steak
- alitas de pollo al horno (baked chicken wings)
- pollo rostizado and pollo asado al carbon
- chuletas guisadas (stewed pork chops)
- carne frita (fried pork chunks)
- chicharrones de cerdo (fried pork rinds)
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Leftovers could be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, scoop out as much as you'd like onto a plate or in a bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes or until heated through.
You can also reheat on the stovetop by heating it in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Recipe FAQ’s
Mamposteao basically refers to something being mixed together, while “arroz” means rice, hence the name.
Yes, you can, but using leftover rice is best as it stays firmer when mixed together with the beans.
Traditionally we use pink or red beans in our habichuelas guisadas or stewed beans but pinto beans will work too.
Yes, you can use ham, sausage, smoked turkey or any other meat you prefer.
Yes, let it cool completely and then transfer it to a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove over medium heat with a splash of water or bean broth. Adding a splash of liquid also helps bring the texture back.
Other Puerto Rican Rice Dishes You Will Love
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📖 Recipe
Arroz Mamposteao
Ingredients
Arroz Mamposteao
- 3 cups leftover cooked white rice
- 1½ cups of Puerto Rican stewed red beans use leftover beans or make a fresh batch (can also use a can of seasoned beans)
- 1 green or red bell pepper chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2-3 garlic cloves finely minced
- 4-5 slices of bacon cooked and cut into small pieces
- 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce
- handful fresh cilantro rinsed and chopped (more for topping)
- 3 scallions rinsed and chopped (more for topping)
Instructions
- Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown and crispy. Remove bacon and drain on paper towel lined plate. Chop the bacon slices into small pieces.
- Drain most of the bacon grease from the pan but leave 2-3 tablespoons in the pan to flavor rice. Set aside.
- Add the peppers and onions to the pan and cook until onions are translucent.
- Add the bacon, garlic and scallions and cook approximately 1 minute while stirring.
- Add the soy sauce and the beans to the pan and stir well.
- Add the rice and begin stirring all ingredients together until all the rice grains are evenly coated.
- Add the cilantro and mix in well.
- Allow rice to continue cooking over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you like your rice drier, cook an additional 10 minutes. Serve rice immediately.
Andy B Cook says
I love this recipe. The bacon and soy sauce add a savory dimension to the Habicuelas Guisadas.
I’m not a big fan of olives, so I left them out for this first go. Next time I’ll include them just to be fair. Also, I oopsed and only had brown rice on hand when I made this dish. And frankly, it was delicious that way.
I still have a LOT of sofritos left over from making the beans. What shall I try next?
Just a note: I have a Puerto Rican friend who says he’s never heard this dish called Arroz Mamposteao.
Cathy says
Hi Andy! So happy to hear you enjoyed it! I’m sure it was delicious with the brown rice! I’m surprised to hear that because Arroz Mamposteao is a very popular rice dish on the island and even served in restaurants. As far as a dish to try next, how about this recipe of Puerto Rican Rice and Beans? If you like seafood, this Arroz con Mariscos with a side of Habichuelas Guisadas is delicious together! Hope these ideas help!
Chelsea says
Made this last night and it was delicious. Thank you for all the work you do. To make a long story short, I’m half PR (dad is from Camuy) and have always wanted to cook authentic PR food for my family. I have fond memories of eating many of these dishes when visiting my dads side of the family. Now I can bring a little bit of PR into my home 🥳🥰 Gracias!
Cathy says
Hello Chelsea! Thank you so much for your kind words! It warms my heart to know that in a small way I have been able to help you bring a little bit of our delicious food into your home! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed this dish, it’s one of my favorites. Love arroz mamposteao! By the way, your dad is from Camuy and I am from Lajas, both on the same side of the island! Appreciate you dearly foodie amiga, gracias! 🥰
Mai says
MUST TRY!! This was beyond delicious !!! My husband is Puerto Rican. So much flavor with left over beans! I love it and will make it more! Thanks for the recipe!
Cathy says
You made my evening Mai! Thank you so much for such a sweet compliment! Love that you guys loved it! Thank you! 🥰
Taylor Kiser says
This looks out of this world delicious! Love that it can be paired with a different variety of proteins!
Cathy says
Thank you Taylor!
Shanika says
This recipe looks so good! It looks and sounds like it’s filled with a ton of flavor!
Cathy says
Thank you! It is Shanika! So good!
Caroline says
This looks so packed with flavor, I can see why you might make the beans and rice just to make this!
Cathy says
Yes Caroline!
Traci says
I am always, always up for beans and rice! Love the use of fresh ingredients too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Cathy says
Me too! 🙂
Valentina says
This sounds so delicious — I can think of dozens of things I’d like to serve with it. I love a side dish that’s packed with so many different fresh flavors. And I’d actually even have it as a main course!
Cathy says
Thank you Valentina! Yep, I’ve actually had it as a main course!
Cliona says
This looks to die for! I’m always looking for more ways to enjoy rice!
Cathy says
Thank you Cliona! Think you would love this!
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
What a flavoursome rice side dish – I think I could eat this as a main by itself! So quick too!
Cathy says
Thank you! I certainly have had it as a main course! 🙂
Jessica Formicola says
I love all of these ingredients! This looks like the perfect side for ANY meal!
Cathy says
It sure it!!
Liz says
I loooove making Rice and Beans so this “dirty” rice sounds delicious! I can’t wait to make this!
Cathy says
Let me know how much you love it Liz! 🙂