What to Serve with Cuban Black Beans and Rice? 7 Side Dishes

Black beans and rice dish is a famous Cuban cuisine relished by people worldwide.

It’s a traditional dish known for its distinct taste and flavor.

This food item is often served as the main dish and tastes pretty impressive by itself.

It’s a heavy dish with rich flavor but is packed with nutrients.

Now the question is- is a side dish necessary for this food item? The answer is yes.

Although it’s nutrient-dense, including a side item is essential.

And if you’re wondering what to serve with Cuban black beans and rice, we have it covered.

Keep reading to learn more.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Cuban Black Beans and Rice?

A side dish enhances the taste and helps distribute nutrients evenly.

And for a dish like black beans and rice, the addition of a side item is essential.

This dish has a high amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and fibers.

So, adding a side dish seems instead a hassle.

However, a light, refreshing side dish will alleviate the savory taste since it’s heavily flavored.

It will enhance the overall flavor allowing you to have a hearty meal.

What to Serve with Cuban Black Beans and Rice? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Check out the list of seven side dishes to serve with Cuban black beans and rice:

1 – Mixed Vegetable Salad

A light dish like vegetable salad makes an excellent pair with Cuban black beans and rice.

It’s refreshing, healthy, and enhances the overall taste of a meal without overpowering it.

You can make a mixed vegetable salad that is easy to prepare and add ingredients of your choice.

Adding a vegetable-based side dish is healthy and good for your health.

Moreover, it’s hassle-free and won’t take more than ten minutes to get done.

Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, green peas, zucchini, and cabbage blend well.

You can mix these ingredients to make a mixed vegetable salad.

Add salt, pepper, onion, green chili, and lime juice to taste.

2 – Pickled Cucumber

If you’re too busy or in a rush to make a side dish, simply have it with pickled cucumber.

It tastes incredible with Cuban black beans and rice.

You don’t have to prepare anything as you can get this pickle from grocery stores.

And if you prefer homemade, you can prepare it yourself.

To make this pickle, you will need cucumber, vinegar, water, and sugar.

These are common ingredients to make pickled cucumber.

You add other ingredients as well, like green chili and garlic gloves.

The crisp and tangy taste of the cucumber gives a refreshing flavor, making it suitable to have with black beans and rice.

3 – Potato Wedges

Potato wedges are popular side items and are served with most of the main dishes.

It makes a perfect accompaniment to Cuban black beans and rice.

The main ingredient is potato, which is sliced and then baked or fried.

Various variants of potato wedges are available, allowing you to create your own version as well.

It blends well with the main dish and enhances the taste overall.

You can have it with other dishes too since it’s versatile.

This side dish is loved by people of all ages and is sure going to be a hit if you serve it with black beans and rice.

4 – Roasted Chicken

It’d be a crime not to include roasted chicken in the list of side dishes to serve with Cuban black beans and rice.

This combo is divine, making you keep craving for more.

Additionally, this pair is nutritious as chicken is a rich source of protein and other micronutrients.

You can prepare this pair for dinner as it’s pretty filling.

The roasted chicken preparation process is simple and depends on how you make it.

A basic chicken roast will not take more than an hour to get done.

Nonetheless, you should definitely try this combo if you haven’t tried it yet.

5 – Coleslaw

Raw cabbage mixed with vinegar, mayonnaise, and salt is referred to as coleslaw.

This salad is refreshing and blends perfectly with Cuban black beans and rice.

Besides, coleslaw is easy to prepare if you’re looking for a simple, hassle-free side dish.

Since the main dish is rich in texture and quite savory, coleslaw will be an excellent addition.

Experience a burst of flavor with these two dishes that will surely blow your mind away.

6 – Steamed Spinach with Garlic

Spinach might not be everyone’s favorite leafy vegetable, but it tastes pretty amazing it tastes pretty amazing when cooked the right way.

Steamed spinach tastes bland, but the taste changes immediately when you garnish it with soy sauce and garlic.

And it makes an excellent accompaniment to black beans and rice.

They taste good together as the subtlety of the Spanish balances the meal overall.

Moreover, this dish is easy to prepare and will not take more than ten minutes to prepare it.

7 – Tomato Salsa

Tomato salsa has a refreshing flavor with a hint of tanginess and spice.

This side dish goes well with heavily flavored Cuban black beans and rice.

It’s a perfect combo worth giving a shot.

The salsa enhances the taste of the main dish without overpowering it.

Tomato salsa is easy to prepare as you don’t require many ingredients.

Simply take a bowl to mix raw tomatoes with green chili, red onions, cilantro, salt, pepper, and lime juice.

It’s one of the easiest side dishes to prepare, and you can have it with other dishes too.