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Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

A classic Louisiana dish featuring red beans and rice, a recipe inspired by Kwame Onwuachi's mother.
Prep Time 55 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Soak Time 12 hours
Total Time 14 hours 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Louisiana
Servings 8 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven
  • blender
  • pot

Ingredients
  

Beans and Sausage

  • 2 cups dried red kidney beans (12 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 14-ounce andouille sausage sliced crosswise into 1 ½-inch-thick pieces
  • 1 large yellow onion (about 2 cups, chopped)
  • 2 medium green bell peppers (about 1 ¾ cups, chopped)
  • 2 medium celery stalks (about 1 cup, chopped)
  • 6 medium garlic cloves (about 2 tablespoons, finely chopped)
  • 1.5 tablespoons House Spice
  • 2 14-ounce smoked ham hocks
  • 6 cups vegetable stock
  • 4 4-inch thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves fresh or dried
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Perfectly Steamed Rice for serving

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Place beans in a medium pot or bowl; add water to cover by 2 inches. Cover and refrigerate overnight (up to 12 hours).
  • Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high. Add oil, and heat until shimmering. Add sausage; cook until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from heat. Transfer sausage to a plate; let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to stir into beans.
  • While sausage cools, drain soaked beans; set aside. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to Dutch oven; cook over medium, stirring often, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add House Spice; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  • Add beans, ham hocks, stock, thyme, and bay leaves; stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook gently until beans are completely tender and ham hock is fork-tender, 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes. Start checking for doneness after about 1 hour.
  • When beans are completely tender, remove from heat. Remove and discard thyme and bay leaves. Transfer ham hocks to a small bowl or a cutting board; remove and discard bones and skin, and shred meat.
  • Transfer 1 cup red beans and ½ cup cooking liquid to a blender. Process until mixture is velvety smooth, about 1 minute. Stir pureed mixture back into red beans in Dutch oven. Stir in shredded ham and cooked sausage. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sausage and ham are heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt to taste. Serve red beans alongside Perfectly Steamed Rice.

Notes

This recipe uses Kwame Onwuachi's House Spice, a versatile mixture of spices that enhances flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 25gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 15gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Comfort Food, Kwane Onwuachi, Louisiana Red Beans and Rice, red beans, rice, southern cooking
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