Prepare to embark on a culinary journey that will transport your taste buds to a realm of flavors with our guide to cooking the "very best red beans and rice." This dish, deeply rooted in Louisiana's rich culinary heritage, is a symphony of textures and tastes that has captured hearts and bellies for generations. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, our comprehensive guide will lead you through every step of the process, ensuring that you create a pot of red beans and rice that will leave you and your loved ones craving for more.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
RED BEANS AND RICE
Every Monday, you can find a pot of red beans and rice cooking in someone's kitchen in New Orleans. The food writer and New Orleans bon vivant Pableaux Johnson's house is no exception. The dish, an easy meal from when people used to reserve Monday to do the wash, was once made with the pork bone left over from Sunday supper. In this version, Mr. Johnson strongly encourages the use of hand-made Louisiana Andouille, but smoked sausage will do.
Provided by Kim Severson
Categories side dish
Time 6h30m
Yield About 12 cups
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cover beans in water and soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. (Water should cover beans by at least an inch.)
- In a large, heavy pot, brown sausage in 1 tablespoon of oil until slightly crisp. Add remaining oil, then the garlic and onions. Sauté over medium heat until onions become transparent and limp. Add celery and bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Pour soaked beans and water into the pot and bring to a simmer. Add black pepper, cayenne, salt and all herbs except parsley.
- Cook until beans are softened, about 11/2 to 2 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Fifteen minutes before serving, remove 1 cup of beans to a bowl and, using a fork, mash them and stir back into the pot to enhance the creamy texture of the dish. Add parsley and green onions. Simmer about 15 minutes, taste and adjust seasoning, and add up to 1 cup more water if beans seem too thick. Remove bay leaves. Serve over white long-grain rice.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 317, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 18 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 324 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
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
THE VERY BEST RED BEANS AND RICE
After trying many red beans and rice recipes, I've settled on this one. It's one of the best, in my humble opinion, although I am sure it's not super authentic since I use bacon instead of tasso or ham hocks. It's loosely adapted from Emeril's Red Beans and Rice (the non "New Orleans style" recipe) on foodnetwork.com. The original, more authentic recipe can be found here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/red-beans-and-rice-recipe2/index.html
Provided by sbjanda
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 3h
Yield 1 large pot, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cover the beans with ample water and soak overnight. Rinse beans and set aside.
- In a large pot, cook the bacon until done. Remove the bacon slices and set aside to cool. Reserve the bacon grease for the next step.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add yellow onions, celery and green bell peppers. Season with the pepper and cayenne and cook until vegetables start to become translucent, about 5 minutes,.
- Add the bay leaves, parsley and thyme. If you are using fresh andouille, add now and brown (about 4 more minutes). If using smoked (pre-cooked) sausage, wait until step 7.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add water/stock, beans, and reserved bacon (chopped) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally 1 and a half hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.).
- Add smoked sausage (if not already added in step 3). Adding this later, keeps it from overcooking and getting too tough. Cook another 30 minutes or until beans become tender and start to thicken.
- Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Cook until the beans are tender and creamy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add vinegar and stir. Add salt to taste.
- Remove from the heat and serve over rice with green onions as a garnish.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 388.8, Fat 14.2, SaturatedFat 4.6, Cholesterol 28.6, Sodium 826.9, Carbohydrate 45.9, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 6.9, Protein 19
RED BEANS AND RICE
Provided by Emeril Lagasse
Categories main-dish
Time 2h50m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Place the beans in a large bowl or pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat the bacon grease over medium-high heat. Add the tasso and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.)
- Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.
SUNNY'S EASY RED BEANS AND RICE
Provided by Sunny Anderson
Categories side-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Add the olive oil and sausage to a Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sausage releases some fat and begins to curl a bit on the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper, celery, onion, a pinch of salt and plenty of hefty grinds of black pepper (more than usual!). Cook, stirring, until the veggies are tender and the celery and onion are translucent and beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the beans and their liquid, garlic and ham hock.
- Add 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer, then cover and cook until the beans are very tender, about 30 minutes. Serve over white rice with a shake of hot sauce.
CLASSIC RED BEANS N RICE
After 25 years in a place where Cajun cooking is common, we've come to rely on this staple menu item. If you've never tried red beans and rice before, I promise you'll like this recipe.-Jackie Turnage, New Iberia, Louisiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 2h35m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Sort beans and rinse with cold water. Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand until beans are softened, 1-4 hours., Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Return to Dutch oven. Add the water, ham hock, bay leaves and onion powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour., In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook the beef, onion, salt and pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Add to bean mixture. Simmer, uncovered, 1 hour. Discard bay leaves., Remove ham hock; allow to cool. Remove meat from bone; discard bone. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces and return to broth. Heat through. Serve with rice and, if desired, top with chopped fresh parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 309 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg cholesterol, Sodium 346mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 9g fiber), Protein 25g protein.
CLASSIC RED BEANS AND RICE
This regional favorite has broad appeal because it is hearty and tasty but no too hot. It's a good way to add variety to the menu.-Shirley Johnson, Kenner, Louisiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 4h30m
Yield 65 servings (about 1 cup beans and 1/3 cup rice).
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Sort beans and rinse in cold water. Place beans in stockpots; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. , Drain and discard liquid. To beans, add 9 qts. water, garlic, bay leaves and browning sauce if desired. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender., Meanwhile, in large skillets, cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels. In the drippings, cook the sausage and ham until lightly browned. Remove and set aside. , Add oil to drippings in skillets. Stir in flour until smooth; cook and stir over medium heat until reddish brown, about 12-14 minutes. Add the onions, celery and green peppers; cook and stir until tender. Stir into bean mixture. , Add the bacon, sausage, ham, parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Serve with rice and hot sauce if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 373 calories, Fat 13g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 1035mg sodium, Carbohydrate 47g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 18g protein.
AWESOME RED BEANS AND RICE
Make and share this Awesome Red Beans and Rice recipe from Food.com.
Provided by lolablitz
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 4h30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Soak kidney beans overnight OR rinse beans and add to pot, cover with 8 cups water and bring to boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then turn off heat and let sit, covered for one hour.
- Pour out water and add 8 cups fresh water.
- Chop onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic.
- Add to beans.
- Add salt, pepper, thyme, seasoned salt, and Creole seasoning.
- Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. When you stir, be sure to mash the beans against the sides of the pot. This creates a creamier texture.
- Slice the sausage into 1/4 inch pieces and add to beans. Cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Serve Red Beans over hot, steaming rice. Serve Jiffy cornbread on side (add 1 stick of butter and an extra egg to the recipe
- for some kick-ass cornbread!).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 347, Fat 21.9, SaturatedFat 7.2, Cholesterol 46.3, Sodium 1048.7, Carbohydrate 21.4, Fiber 6.7, Sugar 2.7, Protein 16.3
Tips:
- Soak the beans overnight: Soaking the beans overnight will help to reduce the cooking time and make them more tender.
- Use a flavorful broth: The broth you use to cook the beans will contribute to the overall flavor of the dish. Use a broth that is flavorful and has a rich taste.
- Add some vegetables: Vegetables will add flavor, nutrients, and color to the dish. Some good vegetables to add include onions, celery, bell peppers, and carrots.
- Use smoked sausage or ham: Smoked sausage or ham will add a smoky flavor to the dish. If you don't have smoked sausage or ham, you can use regular sausage or ham.
- Season the dish to taste: Be sure to season the dish to taste with salt, pepper, and other spices. You can also add a bit of cayenne pepper for a little spice.
- Serve the dish with rice: Red beans and rice is a classic combination. Serve the dish with cooked rice, and enjoy!
Conclusion:
Red beans and rice is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying dish that the whole family will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give red beans and rice a try!
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