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Overhead shot of red beans and rice in a bowl
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4.50 from 2 votes

Cajun Red Rice and Beans

This boldly spiced, thick, and hearty stew suits all seasons, moods, and meals. You'll never miss the meat in this plant-based version!
Prep Time 8 hours
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 11 hours
Servings 6
Calories 260kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound dry kidney beans
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 large sweet onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
  • 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 bunch parsley tied together with twine
  • 1 14 ounce package vegan sausage, sliced (if you can find it, use andouille)
  • 1 cup long grain white rice

Instructions

  • Rinse the beans well. Place in a large pot and cover with at least 2 inches of cold water. Soak overnight. Rinse well.
  • Heat the oil in a large, deep pot over medium. When hot, add the onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook until starting to soften, 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic, Cajun seasoning,thyme, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, until fragrant.
  • Add the beans, broth, bay leaf, and parsley bundle. Stir well.
  • Bring to a simmer, and then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
  • Add the sausage and return to a simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender.
  • In a medium pot, combine the rice with 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, until the grains are tender.
  • Remove the parsley and bay leaf from the beans before serving with rice.

Notes

  • Pick through the beans before cooking. Dried beans can sometimes have small pebbles or bits of dirt remaining from the harvesting and packaging processes. It would be a nasty surprise to chomp down into that, so it pays to take an extra minute to check. I like to spread them out on a sheet pan to give them a once over before rinsing.
  • Add a touch of vinegar to taste. Instead of going straight for the salt, add a splash of vinegar to brighten up the flavors after cooking. Anything from apple cider to red wine vinegar, balsamic to malt vinegar works brilliantly.
  • Consider the sausage optional. For a whole food, plant-based diet, you won’t be missing anything without the prepared meat analogues. Alternately could try incorporating diced smoked tofu for a different sort of meaty experience.

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal