**Red Beans and Rice: A Culinary Delight with a Rich History**
Red beans and rice, a classic dish with a rich history, is a beloved staple in many cultures. This hearty and flavorful meal is made with red beans, rice, and a variety of aromatic spices. Its origins can be traced back to West Africa, where it was a staple dish among many communities. Over time, it was brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans and became a popular dish in the Southern United States, particularly in Louisiana. Today, red beans and rice is enjoyed by people all over the world, and there are numerous variations of the recipe. This article presents a collection of classic red beans and rice recipes, each with unique flavors and ingredients. From the traditional Louisiana-style red beans and rice to vegetarian and vegan versions, these recipes offer a diverse range of options to suit every taste and dietary preference. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, these recipes will guide you through the steps of creating this delicious and satisfying dish.
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
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.
SLOW-COOKER RED BEANS AND RICE
Cajun seasoning and red pepper sauce add the right amount of zip to a classic rice and beans dish.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 8h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place pork hocks in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Top with onion, beans, bay leaf, tomato sauce, pepper sauce and bell pepper in order listed.
- Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, heat water to boiling in 2-quart saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat and stir in rice. Cover and let stand about 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff rice with fork before serving.
- Meanwhile, remove pork from cooker; place on cutting board. Pull meat from bones, using 2 forks; discard bones and skin. Return pork to cooker. Stir in Cajun seasoning and sausage. Increase heat setting to high. Cover and cook 15 minutes or until sausage is heated through.
- For each serving, place 1/2 cup rice in soup bowl and top with 3/4 cup red bean mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 475, Carbohydrate 54 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Fat 2, Fiber 5 g, Protein 22 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1420 mg
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
CLASSIC RED BEANS AND RICE
This is made with a ham hock and smoked sausage, to infuse the beans with loads of flavor. You'll need to give the beans an overnight soak (not listed in the time to make the recipe). Cook your rice separately, as you'll be spooning rice into the bottom of the bowl and then topping with the flavorful beans.This recipe takes time, but it is so worth it. Adapted from an Emeril Lagasse recipe.
Provided by LifeIsGood
Categories Rice
Time 2h20m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Rinse the beans under cold water in a colander. Throw away any broken beans or pebbles. Put the beans into a large bowl and add enough water to cover them by about 2 inches. Soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. (Quick method = bring the beans and enough water to cover them by 2 inches to a boil in a large pot over high heat and cook for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and cover tightly, let stand for 1 hour.).
- Heat up the oil in a big, heavy stockpot over med-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers and garlic - cook, stirring, for about 4 minutes or until softened. Add the sausage, salt, Creole seasoning, cayenne, black pepper, thyme and the bay leaves. Cook, stirring, for about 4-5 minutes or until the sausage is browned. Add the ham hock and cook for 3 minutes.
- Drain the beans and add them to the pot. pour in enough stock to cover the whole mixture by about 1 inch. Bring this to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to med-low and simmer, uncovered, until the beans are tender, stirring occasionally - approx 2 hours. Remove and throw away the bay leaves.
- Mash up about 1/4 of the bean mixture. This will thicken the juices. Remove the ham hock and let cool slightly. Slice the meat from the bone, throwing away the skin and bones. Return the meat to the pot and heat it through.
- Spoon the rice into bowls and top with the beans. Relax and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 482.5, Fat 27.4, SaturatedFat 7.8, Cholesterol 52.7, Sodium 1919.5, Carbohydrate 32.6, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 12.2, Protein 27.7
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.
Tips:
- Soak the beans overnight: Soaking the beans overnight helps to soften them 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 flavorful broth: The broth you use to cook the beans will add a lot of flavor to the dish. Use a good-quality chicken or vegetable broth, or make your own broth using bones, vegetables, and herbs.
- Add vegetables and spices: Vegetables and spices will add flavor and depth to the dish. Common vegetables to add to red beans and rice include celery, onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Common spices to add include cumin, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Cook the beans until they are tender: The beans should be cooked until they are tender but not mushy. This usually takes about 1-2 hours, depending on the type of beans you are using.
- Serve the beans and rice with your favorite toppings: Red beans and rice is often served with toppings such as green onions, chopped parsley, hot sauce, and cornbread.
Conclusion:
Red beans and rice is a classic Southern dish that is easy to make and delicious. With its flavorful broth, tender beans, and fluffy rice, it's a meal that the whole family will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a hearty and comforting meal, give red beans and rice a try. You won't be disappointed!
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