Halloween Rice Ghost
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Not all Halloween recipes need to be sweet. Rice is essential to my everyday meals, so I love this savory take on a Halloween-themed dish. My Halloween Rice Ghost is citrusy cilantro-lime rice dressed up for spooky season, and when you pair it with Halloween Black Bean Bats, you get a hearty, filling meal that will leave you (and your guests) super satisfied.

Why you’ll love it
- Savory, not sweet: Party food that actually fills you up.
- 5-ingredients: Rice, beans, lime, cilantro, seasonings.
- Kid-friendly + crowd-pleasing: Mild flavor, fun presentation.
- Vegan-friendly: Naturally dairy-free; easy gluten-free, too.
What you’ll need
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup jasmine white rice, rinsed until water runs clear
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp fresh-squeezed lime juice (more to taste)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Ghost-shaped serving bowl
- ¼ cup black beans (canned or homemade) for the face
Yield: 5–8 servings
Directions
- Rinse the rice in a strainer until the water runs clear.
- Combine & season: In a medium stainless pot, add rice, water, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir.
- Bring to a boil on high. Boil until bubbles cover the surface and most water evaporates, about 10 minutes total from burner-on.
- Stir once, cover, and reduce to lowest heat setting. Cook 20 minutes (no peeking!).
- Fluff & finish: Lift the lid, add cilantro and lime juice, and fluff with a fork.
- Serve ghost-style: Spoon rice into a ghost-shaped bowl. Use black beans to make two eyes and a round mouth. Boo!
- Plate alongside Halloween Black Bean Bats.
If you make this Halloween Rice Ghost, tag @thelittlearepa so we can see your spooky spread! For more easy Colombian-American recipes, join our free Substack newsletter.

