Description
Hearty Louisiana red beans and rice dish brings robust Creole flavors to your table. Spicy sausage, tender beans, and aromatic seasonings create a comforting meal you’ll savor with Southern hospitality.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) dried red beans, soaked overnight and drained (or use 3 cans, rinsed and drained)
- 1 lb (450 g) smoked sausage (like Andouille), sliced
- 2 cups (400 g) long-grain white rice
- 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken broth or water
- 4 cups (960 ml) water or chicken broth
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil or bacon drippings
- 2 tbsps hot sauce (optional, for extra heat)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish
- 1 tbsp butter (optional for flavor)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt (more to taste)
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust for spice)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Bean Preparation: Soak dried beans overnight, drain, and rinse thoroughly to eliminate excess starch and ensure optimal texture.
- Flavor Foundation: In a large pot, sear sausage slices until caramelized, developing a rich, smoky base, then set aside.
- Aromatic Vegetable Base: Sauté the Louisiana holy trinity (onions, bell peppers, celery) with garlic until vegetables soften and release their fragrant essence, creating a flavor-packed foundation.
- Spice and Liquid Integration: Reunite sausage with vegetable mixture, introducing soaked beans, chicken broth, and a robust blend of herbs and spices including smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Slow Simmering Process: Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to meld and develop deep, complex flavors for 90-120 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding water if needed.
- Rice Accompaniment: Concurrently prepare rice by combining water, butter, and salt, cooking covered on low heat until liquid is fully absorbed and grains become perfectly tender.
- Texture Refinement: Gently crush a portion of beans against the pot’s side to create a creamy consistency, then adjust seasonings to taste.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle beans over fluffy rice, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley or green onions for a vibrant, final flourish.
Notes
- Soak Beans Strategically: Overnight soaking helps reduce cooking time and eliminates potential digestive discomfort, ensuring beans cook evenly and absorb flavors more effectively.
- Develop Flavor Layers: Searing sausage before sautéing vegetables creates a rich caramelized base that intensifies the overall taste profile of the dish.
- Monitor Liquid Carefully: Check bean mixture periodically during long simmer, adding water to prevent burning and maintain desired creamy consistency.
- Customize Heat Levels: Adjust cayenne and hot sauce to personal spice tolerance, allowing flexibility for different palate preferences without compromising traditional Louisiana-style flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Louisiana Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg