Thursday, March 10, 2011

Spicy Smoky Red Beans and Garlic Brown Rice, Vegetarian Style



Just because I’m in the middle of freezing cold Idaho doesn’t mean I can’t celebrate Mardi Gras. Well, ok it does. Though I can still enjoy a big bowl of healthy red beans and rice at home.

I don’t think you’ll miss the ham hocks in this recipe. It’s beautifully smoky without it, with lots of spice and flavor.

Spicy Smoky Red Beans and Garlic Brown Rice, Vegetarian Style
Printer Version Both Recipes
I used canned beans. If you prefer, soak 1 pound of dry red kidney beans over night in a large pot of water. Strain and rinse before using. At the end of cooking time, you’ll need a food processor or blender to puree part of the beans.


2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 to 5 ribs celery, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from a small can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 to 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped very fine (two will be spicy)
2 teaspoons thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon liquid smoke (found in the spice aisle)
12 ounce Corona Beer (Or other similar style beer)
2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
2 to 3 bay leaves (3 if small)
4 (15.25 ounce) cans red kidney beans, strained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, to taste
Cooked rice, recipe below

1. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Cook until vegetables are softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Add the adobo sauce, chopped chipotle peppers, thyme, oregano, cumin and liquid smoke. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the beer, Tabasco sauce, bay leaves and kidney beans. Bring to a simmer, lower heat to continue to simmer and cook for 45 minutes.

3. Add the pepper and salt. Puree 1 heaping cup of the bean mixture and return it to the pot. Stir and serve beans over rice.

Garlic Brown Rice
This recipe is written for a rice cooker. I prefer a fuzzy logic type myself. They make the best brown rice ever.
You'll only get about four servings out of this, so feel free to double the recipe if you need.

1 ½ cups brown rice (or 2 rice cooker cups)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter or soy butter for Vegan
Scant 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
Water

1. Place the rice in a rice cooker bowl and cover with water and stir. Pour off most of the water into the sink leaving the rice in the bowl. Repeat two more times. This cleans the rice.

2. Fill bowl with water to the two cup brown rice mark. Add the butter, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Place the bowl in the slow cooker and select brown rice if you have the option. Set aside for the casserole.

Recipes and picture by Laura Flowers.


16 comments:

Amee said...

Thanks so much for giving us a RICE COOKER recipe. You have no idea how helpful and practical that is! THank you! Looks delish! Your roasted brussel sprouts would be a great side to go with this meal? mmmm.

Mari said...

Hello neighbor. No surprise, we are on the same wavelength.

I got up this morning and prepared a lovely bath for pinto beans to frolick in all day. Only dif, mine will be loaded with our beloved bacon, onion, green chiles and tomatoes.

Thanks for sharing and I will try the rice recipe, too.

Lauren (PB&G) said...

I ran across this recipe in my reader and thought how fabulous it would be for a weeknight dinner and lunches!

La Bella Cooks said...

Wow, this looks incredible and I can just imagine how full of flavor it is. I definitely want to give this recipe a go. Thanks for sharing.

Joanne said...

Nope. Definitely do NOT miss that ham hock. YOu've actually made my life easier by not including it. Then I'd feel compelled to go out and find one but now I can be like PSHHH no need baby.

This looks so good!

Diana's Cocina said...

Oh, this looks delicious! I've been looking for ways to use up all the brown rice I bought at Costco. ;)

sophia said...

Very intense flavors here...I love the idea of garlic brown rice....and a can of beer in the beans!! I've definitely got this springpadded. I must make this, but maybe with a Korean twist...:)

scrambledhenfruit said...

This sounds so flavorful- just what I need in this dreary rainy weather!

Monet said...

I won't miss the ham hocks at all! And I have been craving a big bowl of beans and rice. Yum! Thanks for sharing, sweet friend. I hope you have a great Friday. I need a loong and relaxing weekend, and I'm sure you do too!

Chelsea said...

Mmm, beans and rice sound great in this cold weather, and these look especially yummy!

singh from dominos india said...

Goodness this sounds particularly delish

Sunit said...

Those look delicious! I'm going to make these later on tonight, missing a few things like the celery but hopefully carrots and mushrooms'll make up for it. :D

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

Awesome looking beans Laura! Love the chipotle peppers with the adobo sauce. Nice heat and smokiness, which I bet added a lot of flavor. That's a great vegetarian dish, even my meat lovers would go for :o)

Anonymous said...

Garlic Brown Rice....I'll have to try it!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

Mmm I loves me a good hot bowl of beans and rice!

Unknown said...

That is perfect for a cold night.

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