Caribbean Coconut Rice And Beans - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups coconut milk
1 bay leaf (or 1 tsp. peeled and minced fresh garlic) (optional)
1 1/2 cups short-grain rice (or long-grain...particularly jasmine)
salt
1/2 cup cooked beans (moist kidney, pinto, pink or black beans)

Preparation

Combine coconut milk, bay leaf (or garlic) if you're using it, and rice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add some salt, lower heat to low and cover. Cook for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure it doesn't scorch.
Uncover. Cook, stirring over low heat, until rice is tender and mixture is creamy, about 15 minutes. At about the 10-minute mark, stir in beans. If liquid evaporates before rice is done, stir in water (about 1/2 cup at a time), and cook until done.