Description
Hearty Louisiana red beans and rice bring southern comfort to your dinner table, celebrating New Orleans’ rich culinary heritage. Spicy sausage, creamy beans, and aromatic seasonings blend perfectly, inviting you to savor authentic southern flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Beans:
- 1 lb dried red beans
- 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups chicken broth or water
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Submerge dried red beans in cold water, allowing them to hydrate overnight. Discard soaking liquid and rinse thoroughly.
- Warm olive oil in a robust cooking vessel over moderate flame, creating a fragrant base with diced onions, vibrant bell peppers, crisp celery, and minced garlic until vegetables become translucent and aromatic.
- Introduce sliced smoked sausage into the vegetable mixture, browning the meat to develop rich, caramelized flavors and enhance the overall depth of the dish.
- Sprinkle in earthy thyme, smoky paprika, fiery cayenne pepper, and tuck whole bay leaves into the mixture, creating a complex Creole-inspired seasoning profile.
- Gently incorporate prepared beans and rich chicken broth, allowing the ingredients to meld and create a harmonious base for the classic Louisiana dish.
- Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer, allowing the beans to slowly tenderize and develop a luxuriously creamy consistency over 2-3 hours, stirring intermittently to prevent sticking.
- Extract and discard bay leaves, then fine-tune the seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to elevate the flavor profile.
- Plate the velvety bean mixture atop fluffy white rice, creating a traditional Louisiana comfort meal, and garnish with freshly chopped green onions for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- Soak beans completely overnight to ensure even, quick cooking and better digestibility for sensitive stomachs.
- Use andouille sausage for authentic Cajun flavor, or swap with turkey sausage for a lighter protein option that keeps the dish’s traditional taste profile.
- Control spice levels by gradually adding cayenne pepper, tasting as you go to match personal heat tolerance without overwhelming the dish’s rich, complex flavors.
- Consider making extra batches since red beans develop deeper, more intense flavors when reheated, making them perfect for meal prep and next-day lunches that taste even better.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun/Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 13 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg