Homemade Red Beans and Rice Recipe
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
2 hrs 30 mins
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Servings
10
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Calories
557 kcal
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Course
Main Course
Homemade Red Beans and Rice Recipe
Description
This recipe starts by soaking dried kidney beans overnight to soften them. Beans are then cooked slowly in chicken stock with aromatics including bacon fat, onions, celery, and bell peppers, combined with bay leaves and Cajun seasoning. Smoked ham or a ham hock infuses the beans with smoky depth, while slices of cooked andouille sausage finish the dish adding texture and robust flavor. Garlic adds pungency.
Simmered gently until beans are tender and sauce thickens, the dish balances hearty legume richness with smoky and spicy notes from the ham and spices. Served over cooked white rice with a garnish of sliced green onions, it is a traditional and filling comfort food.
Making the dish ahead allows flavors to marry; leftovers freeze well when stored separately from the rice. Tips for speeding bean soaking, seasoning substitutions, and preparing with canned beans are provided. The recipe suggests using Camellia red beans when available and notes the option to use water in place of chicken stock, reflecting traditional preparation styles.
Ingredients
- 1 pound red kidney beans dried
- 3 tablespoons bacon fat butter, or oil, rendered
- 2 yellow onion peeled, small diced
- 3 celery small diced stalks
- 1 green bell pepper seeded small diced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded small diced
- 4 garlic finely minced
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 4 bay leaf
- 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 ham hock or 1 ½ cups of large diced smoked ham
- 1 pound andouille sausage cooked sliced
- 4 cups white rice cooked
- Tabasco sauce to taste
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- green onion sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Add the beans to a large container and completely cover them with cold water until the water is about 4-6 inches over the top of the beans. Let sit overnight. When you’re ready to start cooking, drain the beans, rinse with water, and set aside until it’s time to add them into the recipe.
- Add the bacon fat to a large pot over medium heat and sweat the onions, celery, peppers, and garlic, stirring frequently, which takes about 10 minutes.
- Next, add in the beans, stock, bay leaves, seasonings, and ham, cover with a lid, and cook over low-medium heat for about 2 hours or until the beans are very tender and the liquid has thickened.
- Finish the mixture with sliced cooked sausage, Tabasco, salt, and pepper, and cook for 10 more minutes over low-medium heat.
- Serve with cooked white rice and garnish with sliced green onions.
Notes
- Soak red kidney beans overnight or use quick soak by covering with boiling water for 1 hour.
- Make the dish up to one day ahead and keep beans separate from rice for storage up to five days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze beans and rice separately for up to six months and thaw overnight before reheating.
- If using canned beans, reduce chicken stock by half and shorten cooking time by half.
- Substitute Cajun seasoning with 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 tsp garlic granules, and 2 tsp dried thyme if needed.
- Use leftover ham, smoked ham hock, or shoulder cottage butt for traditional smoky flavor.
- Camellia red beans are preferred when available for authentic taste.
- Water may be used instead of chicken stock for a more traditional preparation.
- Add uncooked andouille sausage about 30 minutes before finishing cooking if not pre-cooked.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 557 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 557kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 56g | 19% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 671mg | 28% |
| Potassium | 1120mg | 24% |
| Fiber | 9g | 36% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 1482IU | 30% |
| Vitamin C | 29mg | 32% |
| Calcium | 72mg | 7% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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