Red Beans and Rice, Cajun Style, Ready When You Are!

            Red beans and rice is a filling, nutritious meal that is great for those busy nights when you don’t have time to cook. If you’re like me, you may have one day of the week that is busier than the others, for whatever reason.

            My busy day is Tuesday. I have meetings in the morning, work in the afternoon, and I have to pick up my son early from school to make it to an early practice. We don’t make it home until it’s already dinner time, so it’s hard for me to muster up the motivation to start a meal, even if I had the time! This is why I love VitaClay and one pot meals. 

            No late dinners, last-minute cooking or drive-thrus required! I can throw all of the ingredients into the pot before I leave and dinner’s ready when I get home - just simple, healthy, whole, and delicious meals. This is one of those one pot meals, and it’s a favorite around here. It’s got that New Orleans kick, and it’s so easy to make.

            It’s also easy to customize just how you like it. You can use your favorite sausage, or just add chicken or beef instead. It’s even good vegetarian—and don’t forget that rice and beans combine to form a complete protein! Try this red bean and rice recipe on your busy night—you’ll be so glad dinner is ready when you get home!

Ingredients for Easy Beans and Rice Recipe:

• 1 lb red beans (soak overnight to maximize nutrition and digestibility)
• 8 cups water or broth
• 3/4 lb sausage, sliced
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped (optional)
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Some turmeric powder to sprinkle in (because I add it to everything and it makes the rice bright yellow!)
• 1 T Creole seasoning
• Cooked or uncooked rice
• Garnish: cilantro, chopped green onions, finely chopped red onion

Directions for Easy Beans and Rice Recipe:

1. Add everything but the rice into the VitaClay cooker (if you don’t have cooked rice, you can actually cook it in here along with the other ingredients).
2. Cover, seal and set to “stew” setting. Cook for 1-1.5 hours. Or on "Fast" for 1 hour.
3. If you didn't cook the rice in the pot, serve beans over rice, and add hot sauce if you like it spicy.