Recipe: Fast Beans & Veg

I tried one of Mark Bittman's Quick Meals. The ideas are nice and simple, resulting in easy tailoring for varied tastes.

Tonight, I opted for # 2, Fast Beans and Vegetables. While it was quick, most of the time spent was chopping. So the faster you chop, the faster the meal. Here's my interpretation:

Fast Beans & Veg
1 cup cous cous (or quinoa) cooked per package
1 medium onion, sliced
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 zucchini, sliced
1 medium bell pepper, cut into cubes
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
4 or 5 fresh tomatoes, chopped (about 2 cups)
Salt, pepper, and cilantro to garnish

Cook the cous cous per the package instructions. It should take about 3 1/2 minutes in the microwave.

Sautée the onion for about 5 minutes (I like mine pretty soft). Add the garlic, stir and cook for about 1 minute. Add the zucchini and bell pepper and cook for another couple of minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, onion mixture and toss. Add salt and pepper to taste and generously sprinkle on cilantro.

Verdict: Yum!!

Note: Great for leftovers. The bean mixture, cous cous, and a little shredded leftover chicken make for a colorful (translation: nutritious) lunch.