Review of Mahatma’s Red Beans & Rice

Mahatma’s Red Bean & Rice is an inexpensive product which is why it caught my eye. The 8 ounce package costs about $1.50 in my local stores. Given that the 8 ounce package makes four fairly good sized portions, it is an economical choice for those cooking on a budget. While my family works on a budget, we also need food that is quick and easy to make due to both my wife and I working well over 40 hours a week at our various jobs. But even if a product is cheap and quick, it needs to be tasty or there is no point in making it.

Preparation is quite simple. Full directions are on the package for preparation both on the stovetop and in the microwave. I choose the microwave option for simplicity. Basically, to prepare the Mahatma Red Beans and Rice mix you simply empty the package into a large bowl, add water and margarine, and microwave for 17 minutes. Stir when time is up and let sit for 5 minutes and you are ready to eat.

I should state that I from West Virginia. While in many parts of the South red beans and rice is a traditional food, West Virginia is simply too far north for rice to be a traditional food. West Virginia’ traditional foods were generally built around corn (corn on the cob, corn bread, and corn liquor!). I state this to say that those from the Deep South may disagree with my taste testing skills concerning red beans and rice. Given that, I will move on to my review.

I very much liked the end result of the Mahatma Red Bean and Rice mix. The rice was soft, the beans were firm (not soggy), and the sauce was just spicy enough. Some people may find the sauce too spicy to suit their tastes. Prepared according to package directions the Red Beans and Rice was a nice consistency that didn’t run all over the plate. The Mahatma package indicates that water can be added for a saucier result.

The really surprising thing is that outside of sodium, the Mahatma’s Red Beans and Rice are not that unhealthy. A suggested serving contains 190 calories and .5 grams of fat according to the package. This information appears to not take into account the margarine.

Mahatma’s Red Beans & Rice is an easy to make product that is relatively healthy and also tastes great. The package also states that the rice is grown in the USA for those concerned with food safety from other countries. I expect to be serving Mahatma’s Red Beans & Rice on my family’s table often in the future.