Arroz Rojo con Huevo Estrellado y Frijoles Refritos (Red Rice with Fried Eggs and Refried Beans)
Crisp-edged fried eggs on warm red rice with creamy refried beans, avocado and lime, a filling Mexican home breakfast.
Made with Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Mexican red rice (arroz rojo). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.39 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put your ready made arroz rojo (see the base recipe) in a pan with 3 tbsp water. Cover and warm over a low heat until steaming hot all the way through, about 6 minutes. Reheat chilled rice only this once.
6 min - 2
Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of water, stirring, until hot and loose, about 5 minutes.
5 min - 3
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat until it shimmers. Crack in the eggs in two batches and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, spooning hot oil over the whites until the edges are crisp and lacy and the whites are set.
2 min 30 s - 4
Halve and stone the avocados, slice the flesh and squeeze over half the lime.
- 5
Divide the rice and beans between four plates. Top with two eggs each.
- 6
Scatter over the queso fresco and coriander. Serve with the remaining lime cut into wedges and a pinch of salt on the eggs.
Tips
- Fry the eggs in plenty of hot oil for the Mexican huevo estrellado look, with crisp lacy edges and a soft yolk.
- Cook the eggs until the whites are fully set if serving anyone vulnerable. Use a firm yolk for young children or pregnant guests.
- Add a spoon of salsa roja or salsa verde on the side if you want more heat.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep any leftover rice and beans separately in the fridge for up to 1 day, and reheat the rice only once until steaming hot.
Questions
Can I make this without cheese?
Yes. Leave out the queso fresco and the dish becomes dairy free. A squeeze of lime and the avocado give enough richness.
Which eggs are best for huevos estrellados?
Large, very fresh eggs. Fry them in a hot pan with enough oil that the whites puff and crisp at the edges while the yolk stays soft.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as long as your arroz rojo and refried beans were made with gluten free ingredients. The fried eggs, avocado and cheese are naturally gluten free.
More made with refried beans (frijoles refritos)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.