Red Beans and Rice
In short: Creamy red kidney beans simmered with smoked sausage, ham hock and the Cajun trinity, ladled over white rice for a classic New Orleans Monday meal. It takes about 3 h 20 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 3 h
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 3 h 20 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 550 kcal
Red beans and rice is the traditional Monday supper in New Orleans, when a pot of beans could simmer on the stove while the washing was done. Kidney beans cook slowly with smoked ham hock, andouille, onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic until the liquid turns thick and creamy. Mashing a few beans against the pot gives it body. It is cheap, filling and better on the second day.
Instructions
- Put the soaked beans in a large pot, cover with fresh water by 5 cm (2 in) and bring to a rolling boil. Boil hard for 10 minutes, which is needed to make kidney beans safe to eat, then drain.
- Heat the oil in the clean pot over medium heat and brown the sausage for 4 minutes. Lift it out. Add the onions, celery and bell pepper and cook for 8 minutes until soft, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Return the beans and sausage to the pot with the ham hock, bay leaves, thyme, paprika, cayenne, black pepper and the water or stock. Bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer and partly cover.
- Cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, stirring now and then, until the beans are very tender. Add hot water if the pot gets dry.
- Lift out the ham hock, pull the meat from the bone and shred it. Return the meat to the pot and discard the bone, skin and bay leaves.
- Mash about a quarter of the beans against the side of the pot, stir in the salt and simmer for 15 minutes more, until thick and creamy. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the package directions.
- Serve the beans over the rice with spring onions and hot sauce.
Tips
- Add the salt near the end, since early salting can keep beans from softening. Without a ham hock, use 150 g (5 oz) diced smoked bacon or a smoked turkey wing.
- A pressure cooker works well: cook the soaked beans with everything else at high pressure for 30 minutes. Never cook raw kidney beans in a slow cooker without boiling them first.
Questions and answers
Do I have to soak the beans for red beans and rice?
Soaking shortens the cooking and helps the beans cook evenly, but you can skip it and add about an hour to the simmer. Always boil kidney beans hard for 10 minutes first.
Can I make red beans and rice ahead of time?
Yes. It thickens and improves overnight. Refrigerate it for up to 4 days, or freeze the beans for 3 months and add water when reheating.
What goes with red beans and rice?
Fried chicken or extra smoked sausage, cornbread and hot sauce are traditional. A salad of tomato and cucumber balances the richness.
How long does it take to make Red Beans and Rice?
About 3 h 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 3 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Red Beans and Rice?
About 550 kcal per serving, with 28 g of protein, 73 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 550 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbohydrates | 73 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 12 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
