Hello, friends, this is Michelle, here in the South, whenever I say I'm going to make beans and rice people always think I'm referring to Southern beans and rice when I'm actually talking about, my Vegan Jamaican Stew Peas with rice, Jamaican Rice And Pigeon Peas or Jamaican Rice And Peas. They are actually very different in how they are prepared and taste. Read more about Red Beans And Rice here.
Vegan Red Beans And Rice
Red beans and rice is an Iconic dish of Louisianna Creole cuisine, it's traditionally served on Mondays throughout Louisianna and now it's a popular Southeastern staple.
Traditionally the beans were cooked for hours with onion, celery, pepper, meat, and served over rice.
I'm going to share with you how to make Southern red beans and rice from scratch. It is so easy to prepare, and actually really flavorful. This recipe was definitely a hit, even without sausage, ham bone, ham hock or bacon. You have to try it!
I added sauteed vegan sausage at the end. The dish tastes delicious without it, because of the addition of smoked paprika, which gives it the smoky sausage flavor.
Some vegan sausages brands:
- Beyond Sausage: Vegan, Gluten-Free
- Tofurky Zesty Andouille - Vegan
- Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage - Vegan
- Lightlife Smart Dogs - Vegan, Gluten-Free
What Kind Of Beans Are In Red Beans And Rice?
I used red kidney beans for mine, but small red beans can be substituted.
How To Make Red Beans And Rice?
To make this easy red beans and rice
- Sort and soak red kidney beans in cold water for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Prepare Rice, check out my brown rice recipe.
- Drain and rinse beans, set aside.
- In a large saucepan, heat oil on medium heat and add onion, celery, pepper, and garlic. Cook until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, paprika, Creole Seasoning, cayenne pepper, vegetable broth, bay leaf, and kidney beans.
- Cover the saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for 60-90 minutes or until kidney beans are tender and you have the desired consistency.
- Add salt and stir, check the taste. mash some of the beans with the back of a wooden spoon to thicken. Serve with cooked rice and garnish with sauteed vegan sausage, chopped parsley.
What Goes With Red Beans And Rice?
What To Do With Leftover Red Beans And Rice?
Red beans and rice tastes better the next day. Store leftovers in separate covered containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, add them to saucepans, add a little water or vegetable broth and stir. Cook on low heat until thoroughly heated.
Can I Freeze Leftover Rice And Beans?
Yes, you can freeze your red beans and rice in separate freezer-safe containers, Defrost before reheating, and pour the beans on the rice when warm.
Is Popeye's Red Beans And Rice Vegan?
Popeye's is a popular American fast food chain originating from Louisiana. It became famous for its Southern-style fried chicken and red beans and rice.
I know that sometimes you might be out with your omnivorous friends and family and they so happen to go to Popeye's. You are a hungry vegan and you think that the only option to get at Popeye's is red beans and rice. Unfortunately, you won't be able to eat it because it contains bacon.
Other Vegan Southern Recipes To Try
- Southern Black-Eyed Peas
- Vegan Gumbo
- Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
- Okra And Tomato Stew
- Vegan Gluten-Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Vegan Southern-Style Succotash
- Gluten-Free Vegan Biscuit And Gravy
- Vegan Key Lime Pie
Nutrition
- Energy:
- 259 kcal / 1083 kJ
- Fat:
- 4 g
- Protein:
- 18 g
- Carbs:
- 0 g
Cooking Time
- Preparation:
- 15 min
- Cooking:
- 1 h 30 min
- Ready in:
- 1 h 45 min
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried kidney beans
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, I used avocado
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme, or 3 sprigs
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon Creole seasoning, or store bought Cajun/Creole seasoning
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- 8 cups vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- salt, to taste (I used 1 teaspoon)
- fresh parsley, chopped
- Jasmine rice, * link to recipe
- vegan sausage, *link to recipe
Instructions
- Sort and soak red kidney beans in cold water for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Prepare Rice, check out my brown Jasmine Rice.
- Drain and rinse beans, set aside. In a large saucepan, heat oil on medium heat and add onion, celery, pepper, and garlic. Cook until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, paprika, Creole Seasoning, cayenne pepper, vegetable broth, bay leaf, and kidney beans.
- Cover the saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for 60-90 minutes or until kidney beans are tender and you have the desired consistency.
- Add salt and stir, check the taste. mash some of the beans with the back of a wooden spoon to thicken. Serve with cooked rice and garnish with chopped parsley.
- For the vegan sausage, cut in coins and lightly saute in oil in a skillet until golden brown. Add to cooked red beans.
Another winner-winner Vegan dinner!!! Michelle, you are an absolute star! This was fabulous!
I made a couple of adjustments to the recipe — because I was short on time, I used 3 cans of small red kidney beans (I poured out the aquafaba before adding to the pot) with the seasonings, and added 2-3 teaspoons of Better Than Buillion Seasoned Veggie base, and measured out 8 cups of veggie broth. But, I noticed the liquid wasn’t getting thick enough for me (ever after smashing 3 full spoons of beans). So, I removed about 3 cups of the broth, and added a cornstarch slurry to the bean/veggie mixture to get the consistency I wanted. I also used the Beyond Meat vegan sausage…my husband and 11-year old absolutely LOVED it!
Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.
-Carolyn
Thank you for your kind words Carolyn, you did great with your adjustments as well. I can imagine how delicious it tasted with the Beyond Meat Vegan Sausage, I’m so happy that your family enjoyed it.
Could you make this recipe in the instapot?
Absolutely, I haven’t done it as yet.