An easy one-pot recipe for the classic Southern dish! This Vegan & Gluten-Free versionĀ of Louisiana Red Beans & Rice is full of deep smoky and spicy flavors, rice, kidney beans, and veggies. It's allergy-free, oil-free, and still a hearty and comfortingĀ meal without the meat!
They say rice and beans are two of the cheapest ingredientsĀ to have on hand and still be able to make a delicious meal. Hearty carbs and protein? Check. Add some veggies for those micronutrients.Ā Check. Now just toss in some deeply flavorful and fragrantĀ herbs and spices to pull the meal together. Check! That's what you get with this vegan and gluten-free take on the classic Louisiana comfort food, Red Beans & Rice! A bit deceivingĀ in name, since the authentic dish includes meat (pork, sausage) and isn't just "rice and beans". The kidney beans in this meatless version are hearty enough on their own and still make this a fantastic vegetarian dinner!
What's the history behind authentic LouisianaĀ Creole Red Beans & Rice?
Smoky, spicy, comforting? Sounds like a good way to describe a meal made for helping you get through a Monday! Traditionally in the South, red beans and rice was made on Mondays for 2 reasons. First, the leftovers from the big Sunday meal needed to be used (i.e. those scraps of meat and ham hock bones!). Second, Monday was "wash day", so the women needed an easy dish they could throw together and have simmering away on the stove while they did the laundry. This lazy comforting meal was hands-off and a great way to minimize food waste!
What's the differenceĀ between Cajun and Creole?
While you may think these two terms are interchangeable, they are not. In terms of culture and cuisine, Cajun refers to the French colonists who settled in the Acadia region of Canada, later being uprooted and having to settle in what now is known as the Acadiana region of Louisiana. Cajun food is referred to as "country food". In the rural southern regions they lived, they used smoking and salting techniques to preserve food, such as sausage andĀ Boucherie. They utilized the celery, onion, and bell pepper as the "holy trinity" of Cajun cuisineĀ to start most dishes, throwing back to their French roots. Seasonings were super important, from loads of cayenne pepper to thyme, paprika, and garlic.
iOn the flipside, Creole refers to the population born to the French settlers in Lousiana, specificallyĀ New Orleans, (NOLA)! They were descendants of the French and Spanish upper-class, consisting of the wealthy "city dweller" set of the population. So, Creole food is referred to as "city food". Creole cuisineĀ was traditionallyĀ cooked by various slave hands so the flavors and techniques availableĀ were far and wide. Dishes included moreĀ expensive ingredients like butter, insteadĀ of oil, and tomatoes. Red beans & rice is actually a Creole dish, originally, but of course, there is cross-over and red beans & rice can nowadays just be referred to as Louisiana cuisine.
How do you make Red Beans & Rice?
Authentic red beans & rice includes red kidney beans, vegetables (celery, onion, pepper), chunks of pork, sausage, tons of herbs and spices (thyme, cayenne, bay leaves, sage, parsley), served with good 'ole white rice. The beans and meat portion is cooked and simmered in a pot of water that essentials turned into a thick broth by the end of cooking and makes it perfect for serving over the white rice which soaks up all the goodness. For this super easy one-pot red beans & rice recipe we're nixing the meat, throwing everything, rice too, into one pot, and having the finished dish ready in a flash (sorry if you do your wash on Mondays, haha!) You'll be sauteing the veggies, then adding the rice, beans, liquid and seasoning, and letting things simmer away until the rice is fully cooked!
Do you have to use kidney beans for red beans & rice?
Simple answer, no. You can use any "red" bean. Red kidney beans are the authentic way to go. I also feel that they have a distinct taste, texture, and heartiness that other beans do not. They don't become mush, even when using already cooked/canned beans. So unless you have something against the 'ole kidney bean, use them!
Easy One-Pot Vegan Gluten-Free Louisiana Red Beans & Rice
Easy One-Pot Vegan Gluten-Free Louisiana Red Beans & Rice (Allergy-Free)
An easy one-pot recipe for the classic Southern dish! This Vegan & Gluten-Free version of Louisiana Red Beans & Rice is full of deep smoky and spicy flavors, rice, kidney beans, and veggies. It's allergy-free, oil-free, and still a hearty and comforting meal without the meat!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Diced Red Bell Pepper
- ¾ Cup Diced Onion
- ½ Cup Chopped Celery
- 1 Tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Cup Long Grain White Rice (rinsed)
- 1 15oz Can of Large Red Kidney Beans (rinsed)
- 2 Cups Vegetable Broth (or water)
- ½ Cup No-Salt Added Plain Tomato Sauce (optional)
- 1 Tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 Tsp Dried Thyme
- ¾ Tsp Smoked Paprika
- ½ Tsp Cumin
- ¼ Tsp Black Pepper
- ¼ Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- ½ TB Hot Sauce (optional, if you can't handle spice!)
- Fresh Parsley (to top)
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, over medium-high heat, dry saute the pepper, celery, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes until softened.
- Now add the rice, beans, broth/water, tomato sauce, spices, and herbs to the vegetables.
- Bring the pot to a boil and then cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
- Once done, remove the pot from heat and let it sit, covered for about 5-10 minutes.
- Mix in the hot sauce (add more or less depending on your tolerance).
- Serve with fresh parsley, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
Once you get things prepped, it really is a set and forget dish! The best part is that you only need that one pot! No extra messy pot for the rice. Mixing it all together from the start just makes sense anyway! This easy vegan red beans & rice is perfect for a family dinner or made ahead of time as a meal-prep dish and served for lunch! It's one of those comfort foods that tastes amazing as reheated leftovers.
So tell me:
+ Have youĀ ever been to New Orleans? (Such a foodie destination! One day, I hope!)
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Lara
I just made this, and added some zucchini for some extra veg and loved it! The spice and the smokey tomato taste are awesome and the warm feeling in the stomach is the best thing. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Glad you enjoyed!
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
Such a warm and comforting meal!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Southern food is comfort food for a reason!
Amber Ferguson
Yummy! Pinning this recipe for sure!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know you'll enjoy!
Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies
This looks wonderful - just the sort of mealI love to cook xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I hope you enjoy!
Amber B
Just made it and it's really good. I added a drained can of dice Tomatoes, a whole diced jalapeƱo and I used frozen peppers and onion because that's what I had, but, it worked well.
★★★★★
Emily
Hey! This sounds yummy... Just wondering exactly how much tomato sauce to add? Thanks š
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's up to you as stated in the recipe.
Emily
It doesn't say in the recipe... ½ of No-Salt Added Plain Tomato Sauce (I just copied and pasted that from the recipe)... 1/2 of... what? a cup? a can?
aisasami
I miss eating red beans and rice! Thanks for the recipe, I am going to attemp to make this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know you'll enjoy it! Super easy!
Briana
This is perfect for the cold weather!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally is!
Cammeo Murray
I loooooved red beans and rice!! This looks delicious and def making it for my hubs who loves Cajun food too š
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is such a delicious meal!
Becca Wilson
This looks like it would taste absolutely amazing! I have not had red beans and rice in a long time.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Time to whip this easy dish up ASAP then!
Diana
I crave Nola food - I go to Nola 3-4 times a year and itās for this red beans and rice. I love that this is vegan friendly, new place for me in my life but Iām enjoying it. Pinning this for my future meals when I get a āmissing the nawlins ā
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope to visit some day!
Rachel
I have never had red beans and rice. It looks pretty simple and I know they are stuff of legends.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well, the vegan version sure is!
Cindy
Iām looking forward to making this! And I love finding vegan versions of classic dishes. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you enjoy.
Christa
Oh wow, I need to try this! Iām always looking for hearty, flavorful, veggie dishes. This looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A great dinner with everything you need!
Jersey Girl Cooks
What a wonderful dish that everyone can enjoy!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You bet! A family favorite!
Amy
I wish I had the ingredients stocked in my kitchen. I want to make this right now!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ha, well I'm surprised they're not!
Chastidy R. Clarke
OMG! I love healthy eating made easy and looking tatsy. I am not vegan but i love having vegan option. I will try for sure š
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This dish is all about easy and delish!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Now THAT is dinner!! Looks amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks, hope you enjoy.