Easy Red Beans and Rice Recipe
I make rice All THE TIME. Whether it’s Mexican rice or Asian rice, 99% of the time, I will add beans to my rice while it cooks because I love beans. And because rice and beans go together like Kiwi and her ball (Click HERE – she sleeps with it every nap and every night). I may or may not have told you that refried beans are one of my favorite foods that I used to eat cold as a child. Gross. I know. Please don’t let that affect how you view my adult palate. Point being, I love beans in all their varieties. Black beans for my Mexican Rice, red kidney beans for my Asian rice. But for both varieties, cilantro and lime. Always cilantro and lime. This Red Beans and Rice recipe is practically as easy to make as plain white rice and takes jut 1 minute longer for you to saute your Red curry paste, ginger and garlic together. Then add your coconut milk, water and beans, followed by your rice and simmer for 15-20 minutes. In that short amount of time while you have prepared the rest of your meal, the Red Beans and Rice literally drinks in all the coconut, red curry ginger deliciousness. To finish it off, stir in some fresh cilantro and bright lime. And you have a Red Beans and Rice recipe so good, you will wonder why you even made anything else but subtle enough it will enhance anything you serve it with.
Red Beans and Rice Ingredients
This is a naturally vegetarian red beans and rice, which is another reason it’s such a good side for, well, anything! Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy red beans and rice recipe:
Rice: Use white long grain rice for best results. Coconut milk: I like using Chaokoh brand coconut milk. Red kidney beans: Need to be drained and rinsed before using. Oil: Coconut oil or olive oil will work in this recipe. Thai red curry paste: Doesn’t make the dish spicy, just adds flavor. Garlic: 3 minced garlic cloves. Use more or less depending on your garlic love.Ginger: Just 2 tablespoons — it’s very subtle in flavor (remember, you’re flavoring lots of rice!).
How to Make Red Beans and Rice
This is a super quick red beans and rice recipe; it’s done in less than 30 minutes! Here are the basic steps for this coconut ginger rice recipe:
Tips for Making Homemade Red Beans and Rice
Rinse and drain rice thoroughly: rice contains a lot of starch which will cause the rice to stick together and can even make it mushy once cooked. To eliminate the mushy problem, it is crucial to remove the extra starch from the rice by rinsing it with cool water in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear – don’t shortcut this process!Use a nonstick pan. It is essential your pan is nonstick because the rice will soak up all the liquid, evaporating the protective barrier between the rice and the pan.If liquid evaporates before rice is done: then add just a little liquid, keeping in mind that the rice will continue to steam for 5 minutes once it’s removed from heat, so it doesn’t need to be 100% cooked once liquid is gone.If rice is still wet: don’t worry, it will continue to absorb the 5 minutes while it is steaming. When you remove the lid after 10 minutes, you can let the rice sit an additional 5-10 minutes to dry out.Let it steam: don’t shortcut the 5-minute steaming process as it gives the rice time to finish cooking and firm up which in turn, makes it fluffier.
Recipe Variations to Try
I love this vegetarian red beans and rice as is, but you can easily transform this dish!
Mix in cheese. You can do a little for a taste or a lot so it’s cheeeesy.Stir in sour cream. Sour cream makes it decadently creamy. I like to stir in cheese and sour cream. Gah, so good!Add protein. You can instantly transform your red beans and rice recipe into a meal-in-one by adding protein such as ground turkey, ground beef, shredded rotisserie chicken, or chopped chicken. Add other veggies. Corn, carrots, red bell peppers or zucchini would all be fabulous.
CAN I PREP Red Beans and RICE AHEAD?
Yes! While this easy red beans and rice recipe doesn’t require much prep, you can still prep everything in advance so it can come together in minutes.
Chop aromatics. Chop your garlic, grate the ginger, and store in separate airtight containers in the fridge.Measure seasonings. Measure out all of the seasoning and store in a separate airtight container.Rinse rice. Thoroughly rinse basmati rice and leave it in the strainer to dry.
How to Store Red Beans and Rice
Let coconut ginger rice and beans cool to room temperature then transfer to a tightly covered airtight container or to several small containers for meal prep. Store in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
How to Reheat Quick Red Beans and Rice
Microwave: For small portions, microwave in a microwave-safe container with a couple teaspoons water for 60-90 seconds or until warmed through.Stove: For larger portions, transfer to a nonstick skillet along with a dash of water or chicken broth. Heat over medium heat, stirring often until warmed through.
HOW TO FREEZE Red Beans and Rice
This easy homemade red beans and rice can also be frozen:
Let the rice cool completely before transferring to a freezer bag (recommended) or freezer-safe airtight container. If using a bag, squeeze out as much excess air as possible to prevent freezer burn.Label and freeze for up to 3 months.Let rice defrost overnight in the refrigerator.Reheat in the microwave or stove as directed above.
What Goes with Red Beans and Rice?
Grilled Shrimp Italian Sausage and PeppersSheet Pan Shrimp BoilChipotle ChickenJerk ShrimpMango Salsa SalmonCoconut Chicken
LOOKING FOR MORE RICE RECIPES?
Mexican Style RiceCoconut RiceCilantro Lime RiceCranberry Apple Pecan Wild RiceCilantro Lime Avocado RiceGreek Lemon RiceParmesan RisottoCoconut Rice with Pineapple and Cashews
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