Indulge in the tantalizing flavors of Louisiana with our comprehensive guide to preparing restaurant-style red beans and rice, a classic Southern dish brimming with bold flavors and hearty ingredients. This culinary journey takes you through three distinct recipes, each offering unique variations to suit your taste preferences. From the traditional Creole-inspired red beans and rice, bursting with the trinity of bell peppers, onions, and celery, to the smoky andouille sausage-infused version, and the vegetarian delight featuring meaty mushrooms and aromatic spices, these recipes cater to diverse palates and dietary preferences. Let your taste buds embark on a flavorful adventure as you explore the depths of this beloved dish, uncovering the secrets to creating an unforgettable red beans and rice experience.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
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
RED BEANS AND RICE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time P1DT3h45m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Put the beans in a large bowl and add enough stock to cover by about 1 inch. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. (Water is not recommended for soaking the beans as it adds nothing to the flavor and does not soften the beans quite as well as stock does.)
- Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil to a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the celery and bell peppers, and cook until softened, slightly brown and giving off a pleasant aroma, about 3 minutes. Then add the seasoning meats and chopped garlic, and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Divide in half and reserve.
- Remove the beans from the refrigerator (they will have expanded nicely and their skins should be bursting by now). Add the beans and soaking liquid to a large stockpot, and add additional stock to cover the beans by several inches.
- Set the stockpot on the stove, bring it to a slight boil and reduce to a heavy simmer. Stirring vigorously, add the liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, granulated onion, black pepper, brown sugar if using, bay leaves and half of the seasoning meat mixture. Simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. (To get "New Orleans cream-style" beans, which are preferable, you can continue to simmer until the beans break down, about 1 hour more.) Season with salt, remove from the heat and let cool in the stockpot to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight. (The beans can be eaten after seasoning with salt, but refrigerating them overnight improves the flavor of the dish.)
- Remove the stockpot from the refrigerator and gently reheat on the stove, stirring in 1/2 cup stock to loosen up the coagulated bean mixture. When the beans reach a boil, reduce to a heavy simmer, stirring frequently as to not let the beans at the bottom of the pot burn. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the andouille sausage and cook until brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side.
- Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a small stockpot. Add the rice, bring it back to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Cover the stockpot, remove from the heat and let steam for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and transfer the rice to a small baking sheet to cool slightly.
- Reheat the remaining seasoning meat mixture. Divide the seasoning meat mixture, beans and andouille sausage among bowls, top with a scoop of rice, and sprinkle with the green onions and parsley. Serve with hot sauce and mustard.
RED BEANS AND RICE
Steps:
- Place the vegetable oil in a 7-quart Dutch oven and set over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, salt and pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions and celery are semi-translucent and the bell peppers are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the pickled pork, bay leaves, thyme, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, water and beans to the pot and increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring frequently until the mixture comes to a boil, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat slightly to maintain a steady simmer and continue to cook for another 30 to 40 minutes or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thickened to your liking. If you prefer an even creamier texture, mash some of the beans with a potato masher.
- Prepare rice during the last 30 minutes of cooking the beans. Place the water into an electric kettle and bring to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil place the butter into a 3-quart saucepan, set over medium heat. Once the butter begins to bubble, add the rice and stir to combine. Add the salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Carefully pour the water over the rice and stir to combine. Decrease the heat to the lowest setting, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the beans over the rice.
- Combine all of the ingredients except the ice and the pork in a 2-quart non-reactive saucepan, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and maintain a simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the ice and stir. Place the pork into a 1-gallon zip top bag and add the cooled pickling liquid. Remove as much air as possible; seal the bag and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 days, turning the bag occasionally. Use within 2 weeks or remove from the pork from the brine and freeze.
AUTHENTIC NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS AND RICE
Just like mom makes. I recommend cooking the day before you want to eat it. It is a time-consuming recipe and the taste gets even better after 24 hours in the refrigerator. For extra spice, add a splash of hot sauce.
Provided by Matt
Categories Side Dish Rice Side Dish Recipes
Time 5h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Melt shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, garlic, and bell pepper in hot shortening until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Combine water, red beans, and ham hock in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir onion mixture into the water; add smoked sausage and celery to the boiling water; return to a boil. Stir bay leaves, Creole seasoning, thyme, and sage into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 5 hours.
- Remove and discard ham hock and bay leaves; stir in hot pepper sauce and serve over white rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 465.1 calories, Carbohydrate 44.1 g, Cholesterol 44.5 mg, Fat 20.5 g, Fiber 12.1 g, Protein 25.9 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 861.3 mg, Sugar 2.9 g
TREEBEARD'S RED BEANS (AND RICE)
This recipe is quite a favorite at Treebeards' restaurant in Houston. It's posted in response to a request. Cooking time does not include the pre-soak or pre-boil time. To make it South Beach friendly, substitute low fat turkey smoked sausage for the regular smoked sausage, and serve with brown rice.
Provided by PanNan
Categories Stew
Time 2h20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Sort and wash red beans. In a large soup pot, add 2 qrts cold water and red beans. Let soak overnight. (To speed up the process, you can bring them to a boil, simmer 2 minutes, remove from heat and let stand 1 hour before the next step.) DO NOT DRAIN WATER!
- Add onions, celery, and bell pepper to beans and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until beans are soft. DO NOT STIR MORE THAN NECESSARY.
- Stir in seasonings and sausage. Simmer 30 minutes more.
- Meanwhile cook a pot of rice, and serve the beans over the hot cooked rice, garnished with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onion.
- Note: Don't stir more than necessary - you don't want mushy beans. If you want thicker beans, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking time, or remove 1/2 cups of the beans and mash them before returning to the pot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 351.7, Fat 21.9, SaturatedFat 7.2, Cholesterol 46.3, Sodium 1620.2, Carbohydrate 22.5, Fiber 6.8, Sugar 3.1, Protein 16.4
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use homemade chicken broth instead of canned broth.
- Soak the beans overnight before cooking to reduce the cooking time.
- If you don't have time to soak the beans overnight, you can quick-soak them by bringing them to a boil in a large pot of water, then removing them from the heat and letting them sit for an hour.
- Be sure to rinse the beans thoroughly before cooking.
- Add a ham hock or smoked sausage to the pot for extra flavor.
- Season the beans with salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and cayenne pepper to taste.
- Serve the beans and rice with your favorite toppings, such as chopped green onions, shredded cheese, or hot sauce.
Conclusion:
This classic Southern dish is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With its hearty beans, flavorful rice, and delicious sauce, it's a perfect meal for any occasion. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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