Name: Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 45 min
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: American

Balancing Bowls Verified

January 27, 2026

If you're looking for a hearty, satisfying meal that's packed with flavor, this vegetarian red beans and rice recipe is perfect for you! This dish brings the spirit of New Orleans to your kitchen with bold spices, tender red beans, and fluffy rice. This dish is a plant-based powerhouse, perfect for any day of the week, and packed with all the rich flavors of traditional Louisiana cuisine without the meat.

Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice Recipe cover

From the Cook

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Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice Recipe

Balancing Bowls Verified

Ingredients

WarningWheat and 2 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Soak the red kidney beans overnight in water.

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic until softened.

Stir in Cajun seasoning, paprika, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.

Add soaked beans, water, chicken stock, hot sauce, Thai chili, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Cook white rice according to package instructions.

After the beans have softened, remove the lid and cook for a half hour, mix in the apple cider vinagar and mashing some of the beans to thicken the mixture.

Stir in fresh parsley and adjust seasoning as needed.

Serve over white rice, garnished with green onions.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Bean Soaking Secret 💧
Soak dried kidney beans overnight with a pinch of baking soda to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, ensuring perfectly tender beans.
Flavor Layering Technique 🌶️
Toast your Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika in olive oil for 30-60 seconds before adding other ingredients to unlock deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
Liquid Smoke Magic 💨
Use liquid smoke sparingly - just a few drops can add incredible depth to your vegetarian red beans and rice, mimicking traditional smoky meat flavors.
Rice Texture Mastery 🍚
Rinse white rice thoroughly before cooking to remove excess starch, which prevents clumping and ensures light, fluffy grains that perfectly complement the beans.
Spice Build-Up Technique 🔪
Finely dice your holy trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper) to the same size for even cooking and create a flavor foundation that allows spices to bloom more effectively.

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About the Cook

Balancing Bowls

I'm Nora! Balancing Bowls is the product of a slightly chaotic life, a need to make and grow things, and a love of creative cooking. If you're here because you're trying to feed your family well without losing your mind, you're in the right place.