One pound of dry beans will feed eight people no presoak is needed for pressure-cooked red beans. Red Kidney Beansĭepending on your preference, you can use Camellia red beans or dark kidney red beans. Not to mention that it will feed a village. The flavor is savory, smokey, and seasoned to perfection. There's a reason that red beans and rice are a staple in New Orleans, the smell of smoked sausage and smoked meats creates a delicious aroma in the home. Using smoked turkey necks still imparts the same smoky flavor ham hock adds but will also shred as they cook in the instant pot, giving us another meat option in this delicious red beans and rice pot. I use smoked turkey necks in my red beans instead of ham hock for a healthier version. Ham hock adds a great flavor but is not the best for health since it's so fatty. For others, ham hocks make them undesirable for health reasons or diet. Why use smoked turkey necks?įor some people, ham hock is a necessary part of this dish. They can cook low and slow the entire day. Red beans and rice only require a little attention to prepare. Since you they were already boiling large tubs of water. Washing clothes in the past was a labor of love, sometimes taking the whole day. Monday became the dedicated day for red beans and rice because, in the 1800s, Mondays were laundry days. Why are Mondays red beans and rice days? Serve it with a scoop of white rice, a sprinkle of green onion, and some crusty buttered French bread to soak up some of the sauce for the ultimate comfort meal.

It is a crucial element of New Orleans red beans and rice they're not supposed to be dry. The gravy texture is made by smashing the beans. One of the most important things is that your red beans need a little gravy. I cook my meats and vegetables in a skillet on the stove because, as a Chef, I like to control my heat temperature, and there's no way to increase or decrease the heat on the sauté setting in the pressure cooker. One important note about my instant pot red beans and rice recipe is that I do not use the sauté setting. This version has beef bacon, beef smoked sausage, smoked turkey necks, red beans, bay leaves, the holy trinity (onion, celery, and bell peppers), garlic, and I make my own red bean seasoning blend instead of cajun seasoning. It took me seven years to finalize this red bean recipe. Instead of needing to presoak beans and wait hours for them to cook, you can whip it up in just an hour and a half using unsoaked beans.

With the Instant Pot, a new-age electric pressure cooker, meals have the same amazing flavors in a fraction of the time. Red beans and rice was the kind of dish that took the entire day to cook, so you smelled it long before you could taste it. I still remember walking in circles around the kitchen, trying to distract myself from the mouthwatering smells wafting from the pot. Red beans and rice were one of my all-time favorite meals as a kid, and they still are to this day. From gumbo and jambalaya to beignets and po-boys, one thing is sure: The Creoles know how to make comfort food. One of the best food cities in the world, New Orleans is widely known for its remarkably delicious Creole cuisine. I know many kids get tired of eating the same dishes over and over, but those kids probably weren't from New Orleans. As a New Orleans native, red beans and rice are a huge part of my diet 8-year-old me might have mistaken it for one of the five major food groups.

Instant pot beans and rice