Description
Red beans and rice, a classic Louisiana comfort dish, celebrates New Orleans culinary heritage with rich, hearty flavors. Simmered beans, smoky andouille sausage, and tender rice create a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) dried red beans
- 1 lb (454 g) smoked sausage, sliced
- 6 cups (1.4 l) water or chicken broth
- 4 cups (720 g) cooked white rice
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: hot sauce
Instructions
- Immerse dried red beans in cold water overnight, then thoroughly drain and rinse before cooking preparation.
- Heat large cooking vessel and caramelize sausage slices until deep golden brown, then transfer to separate plate.
- Using identical pot, gently sauté aromatic vegetables including onions, bell peppers, celery, and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Incorporate soaked red beans with liquid, complementary herbs and spices such as bay leaves, thyme, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Elevate temperature until mixture reaches vigorous boiling point.
- Reduce flame to low, allowing mixture to gently simmer for approximately 2-3 hours, periodically stirring and monitoring liquid levels. Beans should develop luxurious, creamy consistency.
- Reintroduce browned sausage pieces into simmering bean mixture, seasoning comprehensively with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Continue cooking for additional 15-20 minutes to marry flavors.
- Present steaming bean mixture atop fluffy white rice, garnishing with chopped green onions or accompanying preferred hot sauce for enhanced zest.
Notes
- Soak beans completely to ensure even cooking and reduce digestive discomfort from legumes.
- Use andouille sausage for authentic Cajun flavor, but can substitute with turkey sausage for lighter protein option.
- Patience matters – low and slow cooking develops deep, rich flavors in this traditional Louisiana dish.
- Add hot sauce at the end to customize heat level for individual preferences, allowing each person to control spiciness.
- Prep Time: 12 hours 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 419 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg