This recipe is for Alabama-style home-cooked red beans and rice, which is a classic Southern dish made with smoked sausage, vegetables, and spices, cooked in one pot for a hearty and flavorful meal. It is a popular comfort food dish that is budget-friendly and can be easily made in large quantities for meal prep or feeding a crowd. The cooking style is slow and simmering, allowing the flavors to develop over time.

The dish has its roots in Creole cuisine and is a staple in Louisiana and other parts of the Southern United States.

Servings

6

Serving Size

1 & 1/3rd Cup Red Beans

2/3rd Cup White Rice

Calories per serving

Approximately 400-500 calories per serving

Preparation time

30 minutes (does not include overnight soaking)

Cooking time

2-3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried red beans, sorted and rinsed
• 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced into rounds
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 stalks of celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 cups chicken broth or water (for the beans)
• 8 cups of water (for the rice)
• 4 cups cooked white rice

Directions

Red Beans

1. In a large pot, cover the beans with water and soak them overnight. Drain and rinse.
2. In the same pot, sauté the sausage until browned. Remove and set aside.
3. Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to the pot and sauté until the vegetables are softened.
4. Add the bay leaves, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, chicken broth or water, and beans to the pot.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the mixture has thickened.
6. Discard the bay leaves and stir in the sausage.
7. Serve the red beans and sausage over the cooked white rice.

Rice

1. Rinse the rice in a fine-mesh sieve under cold running water until the water runs clear.
2. In a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, bring 8 cups of water to a boil over high heat.
3. Add the rice and a teaspoon of salt (if using) to the pot and stir well.
4. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with the lid.
5. Simmer the rice for 18-20 minutes, or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
6. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit covered for 5-10 minutes to allow the steam to finish cooking the rice and make it fluffier.
7. Use a fork to fluff the rice and serve.

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