Red beans are a staple in many cuisines around the world, and for good reason. They're delicious, nutritious, and versatile. Whether you're looking for a hearty soup, a flavorful side dish, or a meatless main course, red beans are a great option. With their earthy flavor and creamy texture, red beans are the perfect ingredient to add a touch of soul to your next meal. In this article, we'll explore some of the best ways to cook red beans, from classic Creole recipes to modern takes on this Southern favorite. So put on your apron and let's get cooking!
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
RED BEANS
An easy red beans over rice recipe straight out of New Orleans
Provided by Leah Chase
Categories Bean Onion Side Mardi Gras Ham Sausage Sugar Conscious Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Pick through beans, removing all bad beans or any other particles. Wash beans well. Place beans in a 5-quart pot. Add the 2 quarts of water. Add onions; bring to a boil. Lower heat and let beans boil slowly for 1 hour. When beans are soft, stir well, mashing some against the side of the pot.
- Heat oil in frying pan; add ham and sausage. Sauté in oil for 5 mintues. Then add the sausage, ham, and oil to beans. Deglaze pan with the cup of water, then pour into beans. Add all other ingredients. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Beans should be nice and creamy. Serve over rice.
EASY RED BEANS AND RICE
This is an easy and delicious take on a Louisiana classic that you can prepare and cook in 40 minutes! I use turkey kielbasa to cut down on the fat, but not the flavor. Season with hot pepper sauce if you like.
Provided by Paula
Categories Main Dish Recipes Rice Beans and Rice Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- In a large skillet over low heat, cook sausage for 5 minutes. Stir in onion, green pepper and garlic; saute until tender. Pour in beans and tomatoes with juice. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Serve over rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 289.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.4 g, Cholesterol 35 mg, Fat 5.7 g, Fiber 7.8 g, Protein 16.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 807.8 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
AUTHENTIC LOUISIANA RED BEANS AND RICE
Authentic Cajun flavor! I grew up in Louisiana and love red beans and rice; these are just like I remember. Serve with Tabasco sauce for a little kick. My family loved to splash a little cider vinegar in each bowl.
Provided by MIAMI BEACH
Categories Main Dish Recipes Rice Beans and Rice Recipes
Time 11h30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Rinse beans, and then soak in a large pot of water overnight.
- In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, bell pepper, garlic, and celery in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Rinse beans, and transfer to a large pot with 6 cups water. Stir cooked vegetables into beans. Season with bay leaves, cayenne pepper, thyme, sage, parsley, and Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
- Stir sausage into beans, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the rice. In a saucepan, bring water and rice to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve beans over steamed white rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.4 calories, Carbohydrate 79.1 g, Cholesterol 32.9 mg, Fat 24.2 g, Fiber 10.1 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 603.9 mg, Sugar 2.6 g
JAMAICAN STYLE RED BEANS AND RICE
Here, kidney beans cooked with coconut milk, garlic, and rice make a nourishing meal that won't break your budget: this is a Jamaican classic that will please the entire family. Can substitute dry beans with canned that have bean drained and rinsed.
Provided by Luvs 2 Cook
Categories Long Grain Rice
Time 3h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place beans, garlic, coconut milk and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer the beans until they are tender, about 2 hours.
- Add 2 1/2 cups water, rice, scallions, thyme, 1 tablespoon of salt, and some freshly-ground black pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, stir, then reduce heat, cover, and cook without stirring about 20 minutes, until rice has absorbed all the liquid.
- Allow mixture to stand for 15 minutes, still covered. Fluff rice and beans with a fork before serving and add additional salt and pepper, to taste, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 342, Fat 8.1, SaturatedFat 6.8, Sodium 882.7, Carbohydrate 58.5, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 0.6, Protein 8.9
13 WAYS TO COOK RED BEANS
Steps:
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a red bean recipe in 30 minutes or less!
Nutrition Facts :
BEANS MARBELLA
This recipe started as a wisp of an idea in The Veggie, our weekly newsletter about vegetarian home cooking, inspired by that iconic dish chicken Marbella, made famous in "The Silver Palate Cookbook." Instead of chicken, a pot of thin-skinned, creamy beans and their rich cooking liquid form the base, which are then added to a pan of fried garlic and reduced red wine with plenty of olive oil, prunes and olives. They're then topped with a simple roasted potato salad, dressed with vinegar-soaked shallots, capers and parsley. It's not an exact replica of chicken Marbella, but it's a beautiful and satisfying way to enjoy its familiar flavors - the tangy, briny sharpness of vinegar, capers and olives, set against the sweetness of prunes. You can serve the dish as is, but it's even more luxurious with some thickly sliced and toasted bread, brushed with olive oil and garlic.
Provided by Tejal Rao and Alexa Weibel
Categories dinner, soups and stews, main course
Time 2h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Start the beans: Rinse the beans then add them to a large, heavy pot and cover with enough cool water to generously immerse (about 12 cups). Add ¼ cup olive oil, the bay leaves, oregano and 1 teaspoon salt, then bring to a boil over high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beans are very tender, 1½ to 2 hours. Add extra water by the cupful as needed to keep the beans immersed.
- Prepare the potatoes: Heat the oven to 375 degrees. On a large sheet pan, toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil; season generously with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Roast, stirring once about halfway through, until the potatoes are golden-brown and tender, about 30 minutes. Set aside.
- Finish the beans: In a large, deep skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and sauté until soft and fragrant. As soon as the edges of the garlic start to color, add the red wine and simmer until the wine is reduced by half, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked beans (you should have about 7 cups) to the reduced wine in the skillet, then add about 2 cups of their cooking liquid - you want just enough to mostly cover the beans. Add the olives, prunes and another ¼ cup olive oil, and simmer over medium, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the liquid thickens slightly to form a sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Finish the potatoes: In a medium bowl, combine the minced shallot with the red wine vinegar. Add the potatoes, capers and parsley, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Tip the potatoes on top of the beans, drizzle with olive oil and serve.
Tips:
- Soak the beans overnight: This helps to soften the beans and reduce the cooking time. If you don't have time to soak the beans overnight, you can quick-soak them by boiling them for 1 minute, then removing them from the heat and letting them sit for 1 hour.
- Use a Dutch oven or other heavy pot: This will help to evenly distribute the heat and prevent the beans from scorching.
- Add aromatics to the pot: This will help to flavor the beans. Common aromatics include garlic, onion, celery, and bay leaves.
- Season the beans well: Salt and pepper are essential, but you can also add other spices, such as cumin, chili powder, or paprika.
- Simmer the beans for at least 1 hour: This will give the beans time to fully soften and develop their flavor.
- Serve the beans with your favorite sides: Red beans and rice is a classic combination, but you can also serve them with cornbread, mashed potatoes, or a green salad.
Conclusion:
Red beans are a delicious, versatile, and affordable ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make delicious red beans at home. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give red beans a try!
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