By: Franchesca Livraghi | @breakthrukitchen

If there’s one thing about Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban food (or really, Latin Caribbean cuisine in general) it’s that rice is always on the plate! Dishes like red beans and rice, black beans and rice, and yellow rice are staples. But let’s be real, gathering all the ingredients and making them from scratch can be a lot, especially on busy days when you just want a taste of home without spending hours in the kitchen.

That’s where Loisa’s rice boxes come in to save the day, or more importantly, the meal. Ready in just 20 minutes, they come with perfectly portioned seasoning packets that pack these dishes with so much sabor! Plus, the red and black bean rice boxes are made with dehydrated beans, so you’re skipping the canned stuff without the long soak and cooking process of dry beans. In less than a half hour you get perfectly soft, tender beans and flavorful rice without any shortcuts, just real, home-cooked taste.

Whether you prefer using a stovetop, rice cooker, or even the microwave, these rice boxes fit right into your routine. However you make them, you’re getting all the flavor with none of the hassle!

How to make it on the stovetop

1. Start by adding 2 tablespoons of oil to a pot or caldero over medium heat.

2. Open up the seasoning packet and add it to the pot. Give it a quick stir in the oil to bloom the spices and wake up the flavors before adding the rice.

3. Open up the rice packet and add it to the pot. Give it a good stir so the flavors mix evenly.

4. Pour in 2 cups of water, then give the rice a stir to make sure everything is evenly mixed. 

5. Bring it to a boil, then cover the pot with a lid. 

6. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through to keep everything cooking evenly.

7. Turn off the heat and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover it again and let it sit for 3 minutes so the flavors settle and the texture finishes setting. Then it’s ready to serve!

A few tips: using a caldero pot will give you the most authentic texture in your rice dishes. Its thick base helps distribute heat evenly, so you get perfectly fluffy rice. But if you don’t have a caldero, don’t worry. A good heavy-bottomed pot will still get the job done. Just be sure to keep the heat steady, and if you're after some concón, let it sit on low heat for a few extra minutes at the end.

Also, be sure to only cook the seasoning packet in the oil for a few seconds to avoid burning it before adding in the rice packet.

How to make it in a rice cooker

1. Open the rice packet and pour it into the rice cooker.

2. Open the seasoning packet and sprinkle it in.

3. Add 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of oil and give it all a good stir, then cover the rice cooker with the lid. (See below for more details on water measurements.)

4. Turn on the rice cooker and select the rice setting. If your cooker has a vent, make sure it’s sealed before it starts cooking.

5. Once it beeps and finishes cooking, vent it if necessary, then open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.

6. Cover it again and let it sit for 3 minutes so the flavors settle and the texture finishes setting. Then it’s ready to serve!

A few tips: you may need 1/2 cup more or less water depending on your rice cooker, so if your rice tends to come out too dry or too mushy, a small adjustment can help. But if you’re using an Instant Pot rice cooker, 2 cups of water is perfect for this recipe. 

Also, after fluffing the rice, let it sit with the lid on for a few minutes. It might look a little wet at first, but don’t worry. It will dry up and reach the perfect texture as it sets.

How to make it in the microwave

1. Open the rice packet and pour it into a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Open the seasoning packet and sprinkle it in.

3. Add 2 ¼ cups of water and 2 tablespoons of oil, then stir everything well to combine.

4. Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe plate to trap the steam, then place the bowl in the microwave, close the door, and set it for 10 minutes.

5. Once the timer goes off, carefully remove the bowl using oven mitts or a towel (it will be hot).

6. Remove the plate carefully (watch out for steam) and stir the rice gently.

7. Cover the bowl again with the plate and return it to the microwave. Set it for another 6 minutes.

8. When the timer goes off, carefully remove the bowl again, take off the plate, and fluff the rice with a fork. Then it’s ready to serve - ¡buen provecho!

A few tips: For extra sabor, try adding a tablespoon of Loisa's Recaito along with the seasoning. It gives the rice a deeper flavor and helps keep it from drying out during cooking. And if you like your rice extra soft and fluffy, stir in a tablespoon of butter before placing it back in the microwave the second time, it adds a nice richness and helps keep the grains tender.

Also, make sure to use a microwave-safe bowl that’s big enough to prevent any overflow while cooking. And when removing the plate, be careful because there will be a lot of steam! Letting the rice sit for a minute after fluffing also helps it settle into the perfect texture.