Cajun Red Beans and Rice

My Cajun red beans and rice is a super simple meal that's packed with smoky, spicy Southern flavor! The beans cook up wonderfully creamy with bold spices, making for an incredibly comforting vegan dinner when served over a bed of fluffy rice.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound dried kidney beans
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, (diced)
• 1 green bell pepper, (diced)
• 2 celery stalks, (diced)
• 5 garlic cloves, (minced)
• 6 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups long grain white rice
• 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper hot sauce, (or to taste (Note 1))
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt, ( plus more to taste)
• 4 scallions, (chopped)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Rinse the beans, then place them in a large bowl. Cover them with water, making sure that the water level is at least three times as high as the beans. Let them soak overnight, about 8 to 12 hours.
2. 2When the beans have finished soaking, coat the bottom of a large pot with the oil and place it over medium heat. Give the oil a minute to heat up, then add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook the vegetables for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften.
3. 3Push the vegetables to the side of the pot, then add the minced garlic to the space you just created. Sauté the garlic for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until very fragrant.
4. 4Add the soaked beans to the pot, along with the water, thyme, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf. Raise the heat and bring the water to a boil.
5. 5Reduce the heat to a low simmer, then cover the pot. Let the mixture simmer until the beans are very tender and starting to fall apart, about 2 hours. Occasionally uncover the pot and give the mixture a stir. Add a splash of water if the mixture starts to look too dry.
6. 6Cook the rice according to the package directions. Start when the beans have about 30 minutes of cooking time left.
7. 7Once the beans have finished cooking, uncover the pot and remove the bay leaf. Stir in the hot sauce, liquid smoke, and salt. Taste-test the mixture and adjust any seasonings to taste.
8. 8Divide the rice into bowls or onto plates, then top with the bean mixture. Sprinkle each portion with chopped scallions and serve with extra hot sauce on the side.