Cajun Red Beans and Rice is a classic Louisiana dish piled high with comforting, southern flavours. Healthy and packed with a spicy kick, this vegetarian rice and beans combo goes great with your favorite proteins, like sausage, chicken, or shrimp.
Beans & Rice: The Universal Dish of Life
The combination of red beans and rice, or, of any pulse with any grain, is a common practice all over the world and has been for centuries -- and with good reason. Both grains and beans, in all of their varieties, are inexpensive staple foods that sustain many people. Together, they taste good, keep well, and pack maximum nutrition. Plus, both rice and beans are super easy to cook! You can use leftover rice and canned beans or learn how to cook beans and rice yourself for a delicious, homemade dinner.
Origins of Cajun Beans and Rice? Wash Day!
Cajun red beans and rice is a classic Louisiana dish. Traditionally, Monday was the day to eat these beans, because Monday was wash day, and the beans could simmer all day on the stove with little attention from the cook, who was busy with the washing. Arenโt we all happy that we donโt have that problem now? Having to spend a whole day scrubbing clothes is nobodyโs idea of a good time. But Iโm happy that this traditional dish was born of that craziness and is still around today.
Here's What You Need to Make Cajun Red Beans and Rice
- Veggies: Like any dish, you can always pick and choose your favourite vegetables to sautรฉ and add to your red beans and rice. I used a small diced onion, green onion, diced bell pepper, and diced celery stalk for this recipe.
- Beans: You will need drained red kidney beans, and you can use canned or make your own. Iโm using canned red kidney beans today as a time saver. If you want to add more diversity to the dish, you can mix and match the types of beans you include.
- Rice: Use long-grain brown rice to keep the dish more healthy.
- Cajun seasoning: You can buy a packaged Cajun Spice mix or you can easily make your own.
- Hot sauce: If you want to turn up the heat, you can always add Franks or another hot sauce (even peppers) before serving.
- Other ingredients: Minced garlic, vegetable oil, salt, reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken stock
How to Make Cajun Red Beans and Rice, Step By Step
This easy red beans and rice recipe, packed full of mouthwatering Cajun spices, can be ready and on the dinner table in less than 45 minutes. Serve with your favourite protein or simply enjoy this meal-in-itself.
Step 1: Cook the Veggies
Heat your oil over medium-high in a dutch oven or large saucepan. Once the oil is hot, add chopped onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery. Sautรฉ for about 3 minutes, or until the vegetables are softening.
Step 2: Make it Cajun
Add in the Cajun seasoning and salt, stirring until fragrant, for about 2 minutes. With all spices, I recommend adding in a little bit at a time and then seasoning to taste.
Step 3: Add Red Beans and Rice
Stir in the beans, stock, and rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed.
NOTE: Cook time will vary with rice. Use the package directions on your rice.
Step 4: Allow to Cool and Serve
Remove from heat and let your red beans and rice sit, covered, for about 10 minutes, before fluffing with a fork and serving. Stir in hot sauce if you want even more heat, and garnish with green onion.
For Optimum Beans and Rice Nutrition: More Beans Than Rice
The key to optimum nutrition with a beans and rice combination is to use more beans than rice. The beans are the superfood here. Another key: Use brown rice, rather than white rice. If brown rice alone doesnโt thrill you? You wonโt notice the difference when itโs cooked in a flavourful dish like Cajun Red Beans and Rice. This dish is often cooked with sausage, like chorizo, or andouille, and you can easily add that, or even chicken or shrimp, if you like.
Leftovers and Storage
Store your red beans and rice in an air-tight container for 3-4 days in the fridge. If making ahead, red beans and rice actually freezes really well! Just be sure to give it enough time to thaw before serving.
Variations
Variations of red beans and rice are common throughout the Caribbean, (try Coconut Red Beans & Rice) Central and South America, and in the American south, especially Louisiana. Iโve always loved the flavours of that region and like to cook with Cajun spices.
If you like Cajun, too, try Jambalaya, another delicious rice dish, or these yummy Cajun Crab Cakes, Blackened Codย or even Cajun Turkey Meatballs. Cajun Corn on the Cob is delicious, too. And Cajun spice is a natural for shrimp, in pasta, likeย Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta, even an appetizer (tryย Cajun Shrimp Deviled Eggs).
Recipe
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Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion diced (about ยฝ cup
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 1 796 ml can red kidney beans drained
- 1 cup reduced sodium vegetable or chicken stock
- ยฝ cup long grain brown rice
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce optional
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium high in a dutch oven or large saucepan.
- Add onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery. Cook about 3 minutes, until vegetables are softening
- Add Cajun seasoning and salt, stirring until fragrant, about 2 minutes
- Stir in beans, stock, and rice.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30-45 minutes until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed.*
- Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes, before fluffing with a fork and serving.
- Stir in hot sauce, if using.
- Garnish with green onion.
Valerie
I love this recipe, but I donโt understand how you can ever cook brown rice in 12 minutes? Each time Iโve made this recipe it took closer to an hour. It is delicious though and has become a staple dish in our house.
Colleen
Hi Valerie, I need to check the rice that I used when I developed this recipe, but I agree, brown rice takes longer that 10-15 minutes usually. Itโs a staple at our house too, but I donโt think it takes an hour. Iโm going to make it with a focus on the time and will adjust the recipe if necessary. So glad you love it anyways. Thanks for your feedback!
mush m.
I have a pot of this on the stove right now, waiting on the rice to finish up cooking before we dive in. I made your linked spice blend to use in it, too. Smells fantastic!
Colleen
Hi Mush, Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. Cheers ๐
Nikki Mitchell
Have you ever precooked and frozen this dish?
Colleen
Hi Nikki. I haven't frozen this particular dish, but both cooked rice and cooked beans freeze well, so I think the dish would work for the freezer. Good luck!
Ayngelina Brogan
I could eat beans and rice every single day. I'm definitely trying this recipe.
Colleen
Ayngelina, I'm with you on that! Beans and Rice are a go to for me. Enjoy! ๐
Starr
Wonderful use of beans and rice! I love all the spice ๐
Colleen
Thanks Starr!
Eyecandypopper
Beans and rice! Such a classic, and yet so many variations and possibilities to get a complete protein in a vegan dish. Yum! Nicely done!
Colleen
Thank you Gabby! We love beans and rice.