New Orleans Style Vegan Red Beans Rice Food

VEGAN RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to package directions. Set aside.
• Heat some oil, vegetable stock or water in a large pot, add the veggies (garlic, onion and green bell pepper) and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
• Add the spices and herbs (thyme, paprika, pepper, salt, cayenne and bay leaf).
• Finally, add the beans and vegetable stock or water, stir and cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. To make the stew thicker, I usually mash some beans using an immersion blender, but feel free to use a fork or a potato masher or just omit this step.
• Serve the beans with the rice immediately. We added some chopped fresh parsley on top, but it's up to you. Feel free to add some hot sauce as well.
• Keep leftovers in a sealed container for 4-5 days in the fridge.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE VEGAN RED BEANS & RICE

Steps:

• Directions: Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a heavy bottomed pot. If you're oil-free, warm some water to sauté. Add the celery, onion, and garlic, and sauté for a couple of minutes. Add a pinch of salt in there, too. Add the beans, followed by 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then add the kombu, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce to medium low heat to simmer for about 45 minutes. Check halfway through to skim off any foam that may form on the top. While the beans are cooking, make your rice by following the package instructions (brown and white have different instructions). This is also a good time to fry your vegan Field Roast sausage in a couple of tablespoons of oil. When the beans have finished cooking (taste a bean to make sure), remove them from the heat, and stir in the bouillon, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and Cajun seasoning. Add another bouillon cube if you want it saltier (I usually do 2 cubes). Stir in the vegan sausage. Serve over rice, and garnish with parsley. Jenné Claiborne of Sweet Potato Soul is a vegan lifestyle blogger who shares delicious and easy-to-make recipes, cooking videos, and healthy eating tips.

AUTHENTIC NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Melt shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, garlic, and bell pepper in hot shortening until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Combine water, red beans, and ham hock in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir onion mixture into the water; add smoked sausage and celery to the boiling water; return to a boil. Stir bay leaves, Creole seasoning, thyme, and sage into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 5 hours.
• Remove and discard ham hock and bay leaves; stir in hot pepper sauce and serve over white rice.

VEGAN SLOW COOKER RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until the onion is limp and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the celery and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, miso paste, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne and sage, if using. Grind in a generous amount of black pepper and add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine until the miso has dissolved, then remove from the heat and scrape the mixture into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Add the beans, bay leaves, thyme and 6 cups water. Cook on high until the beans are very tender and creamy, about 7 hours.
• If your beans are not bubbling at all by the time they are done cooking, turn the heat up to high and let them bubble for about 10 minutes, to make them easier to digest.
• Before serving, add the soy sauce, and season to taste with salt and cayenne. Using a fork or the back of a spoon, mash some of the beans against the side of the slow cooker to make the mixture slightly creamy. (It will continue to thicken as it sits.) Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Top the beans with hot cooked rice and scallions; serve with hot sauce.

WILLIE'S NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS & RICE

Steps:

• Place all but rice into a 4 qt slow cooker.
• Cook, covered at HIGH 7 hours or until beans are tender.
• Serve with hot cooked rice.
• Note: Willie adds 2T baking soda into the pot just before it is done to reduce the gas in the beans, but be careful that you don't overflow the pot like my DH did.

VEGAN PRESSURE COOKER RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Turn on the sauté setting of a 6- to 8-quart electric pressure cooker and heat the oil. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until limp and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the celery and bell pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, miso paste, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne and sage (if using). Grind in a generous amount of black pepper and add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir well to combine all the ingredients, then turn off the sauté setting.
• Add the beans, bay leaves, thyme and 5 1/2 cups water. Scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Cook on high pressure until the beans are creamy, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Turn off the pressure cooker and allow the pressure to reduce naturally for 10 minutes, then release the remaining pressure manually and open the lid. Add the soy sauce, and season to taste with salt and cayenne. Using a fork, mash some of the beans against the side of the pressure cooker to make the mixture creamy. It will continue to thicken as it sits, or you can turn on the sauté setting and let the mixture bubble for a few minutes to thicken. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Top the beans with hot cooked rice and scallions; serve with hot sauce.