This vegetarian red bean and rice recipe is an inexpensive meal using ingredients readily available at most grocery stores. It’s flavorful and nutrient dense and packed with veggies, legumes and Cajun spices.
48.8 million Americans, including 16.2 million children (almost one in five children in the United States), cannot afford to eat enough nutritious foods on a regular basis. They live in households with food insecurity and therefore struggle with hunger at certain times of the year.
(Source: nokidhungry.org)
A little bit about food access and hunger
A sobering truth is that while most people we know are lucky enough to eat what we want, when we want, millions around us are not. It’s easy to put on tinted Pinterest glasses and create a happy world where everyone eats veggie enchiladas and sips green smoothies — but the truth is, many Americans just don’t have the resources or access to do even half of that Vegetables in a trendy green drink.
Alex and I are grateful to know people who are passionate about fighting food access and hunger in our country, and this is an issue that naturally also interests us as people who care deeply about nutrition and nutrition lay. So we couldn’t be happier to join our inspirational friend Nicole and use today’s post to raise awareness for a campaign bearing the name Food blogger against hunger (and check out the link to see the other 200 food bloggers who have joined the effort! So cool.).
Millions of Americans participating in the national food stamp program are limited to an average of $3 or $4 per person per day to supplement their grocery budgets. And since the government SUbsidia usually focuses on produce like soybeans, wheat and corn rather than fresh produce, and the most affordable foods are often the unhealthiest.
Vegetarian rice and red beans
With that in mind, today we’re sharing an inexpensive meal using ingredients that are readily available in most supermarkets. This version of kidney beans and rice can be made on a budget for about $4 per person. But even better, it’s very tasty and nutritious: full of veggies, legumes, and Cajun spices that pack a massive amount of flavor into a few humble ingredients. It also works for various special diets, including dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.
The ingredients in this vegan red bean and rice recipe are simple: onion, celery, green peppers, tomatoes, and red beans. What makes the flavor tangy are the homemade Cajun seasonings: cayenne, paprika, oregano, and thyme. And if you can stand the heat, the finishing touch is the hot sauce! We ate our veggie red beans and rice with brown rice, but any type of rice will do. If you have a rice cooker or Instant Pot, it’s perfect for tossing the rice while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
Related: Cuban black bean rice and brown rice recipes
Looking for vegan recipes?
This vegetarian red bean and rice recipe is also vegan! Here are some of our favorite vegan recipes:
This recipe is…
This vegetarian red bean and rice recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and naturally sweet.
The description
This vegetarian red bean and rice recipe is an inexpensive meal with accessible ingredients. It’s flavorful and nutritious and packed with veggies and Cajun spices.
- 4 cups cooked brown rice (use How to Cook Rice or Instant Rice)
- 1 yellow onion
- 4 celery sticks
- 1/2 green pepper
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 14 ounces diced tomatoes
- 2 15 ounce canned kidney beans (3 cups cooked)
- 1 cup vegetable soup
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped parsley for garnish
- Hot sauce for garnish
- Cook the rice according to package directions.
- Chop onion and celery. Dice peppers. Chop the garlic.
- In a large saucepan (or Dutch oven) heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, celery, and bell pepper over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes until tender. Add chopped garlic and cook about 2 minutes more; Watch the pan to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn.
- Meanwhile, drain and rinse the kidney beans. When the vegetables are ready, add the beans, the diced tomatoes with their liquid and the vegetable stock. Stir in the cayenne, paprika, oregano, thyme, 2 bay leaves, kosher salt, and a few peppercorns.
- Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes until the sauce thickens. Meanwhile, roughly chop the parsley leaves.
- When cooking is complete, remove the bay leaves and serve the beans over rice. Garnish with chopped parsley and hot sauce.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: cajun
Keywords: Red Beans and Rice, Vegetarian, Vegan, Vegan Red Beans and Rice, Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice
