Smoky Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice

This Smoky Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice recipe is loaded with up melt-in-your-mouth vegetables that are tender and packed with flavor.

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I made it a goal to post more entree and meal type recipes around VV as I was starting to notice my go-tos are breakfast and sweets recipes. Since then, I’ve posted about Chorizo-Spiced Chickpea Fajitas, Vegetarian Spring Curry Ramen, and Green Tomato Stacks. And today I’m here with one of our all time favorite Sunday night meals: Red Beans and Rice!

I started making this beyond easy red beans and rice recipe two winters ago when I saw Guy Fieri (you know, the guy with the great hair) make it on a Food Network special. He managed to take a relatively simple item (beans) and pack them with an extraordinarily amount of flavor — we were hooked from the first bite. Since making it that first time, I’ve adjusted this recipe dozens of times until I found the perfect balance of spice and texture.

The secret ingredient in this vegetarian red beans and rice recipe is chipotle peppers in adobe sauce; they are smoky, spicy, and my go-to when wanting to add an extra depth of flavor to any soup or stew.

The other thing that makes this vegetarian red beans and rice recipe so flavorful is that the beans cook in the spices for several hours. I know, that sounds like a long time to make dinner but I promise it’s all hands-off time. You could be simmering the beans in the background while you go off and read a book, do some laundry, take a nap with your pup, or chill out with some Guy Fieri television.

It’s my favorite recipe to make on a Sunday afternoon when I know I’ll be around the house lounging for a few hours.

What’s Needed for No-Meat Red Beans and Rice?

To make this vegetarian red beans and rice recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Dried red beans
• Peanut oil
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Garlic
• Kale
• Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• Smoked paprika
• Dried oregano
• Chili powder
• Red pepper flakes
• Bay leaves
• Tamari
• Salt and pepper
• Cooked brown rice

How to Make Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice

I’ve included detailed instructions on how to make this easy red beans and rice recipe in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps on how to make red beans and rice with no meat:

1. Heat the peanut oil in a large Dutch oven, then sauté the diced onions, carrots, and celery until softened.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds before adding in the kale, chipotle peppers, herbs and spices, red beans, and some water.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 90 minutes to 2 hours.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the tamari.
5. Serve over cooked rice and enjoy!

Tips for Making Vegetarian Rice and Beans

You only use one or two chipotle peppers in this recipe so lay the remaining out, leaving space between each pepper, on a parchment-lined baking sheet and stick in the freezer until frozen. Then wrap the peppers in that parchment paper, transfer to a sealable freezer bag, and stick into the freezer. Freezing the leftover peppers guarantees you’ll always have them on hand when needed and it cuts down on waste since you never actually need that entire jar in one sitting.

While the red beans simmer, you may need to add a splash of water every 20 to 30 minutes. You’re looking for the beans to become tender and saucy.

Last but not least, keep in mind that salt slows down the cooking process for beans and could even make them tough, so resist the urge to add it until after they’ve cooked.

Want More Vegetarian Bean Recipes?

• 13 Vegetarian Recipes Featuring Canned Beans
• Red Bean Chili with Smoky Cashew Queso
• Black Bean and Wheatberry Chili
• Creamy Quinoa and White Bean Risotto
• Spicy Brussels Sprouts Wrap with Black Bean & Corn Salsa

4.5 from 4 votes

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Smoky Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice

This Vegetarian Red Beans & Rice recipe is loaded with vegetables that cook down with the beans so they end up melt-in-your-mouth tender and packed with flavor. / Recipe adapted from Guy Fieri.

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Vegetarian

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Shelly Westerhausen

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried red beans, soaked in water in the fridge overnight
• 2 Tbsp peanut or olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bunch kale, rinsed and torn, with stems removed
• 2-3 chipotle peppers in adobe sauce (depending on your heat preference), chopped
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 1 Tbsp tamari sauce
• Salt / Pepper, to taste
• 4 cups cooked brown rice
• green onions, for garnish

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse beans that have been soaking over night and set aside.
2. In a large dutch oven or saucepan, heat peanut oil over medium heat.
3. Add diced onions, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, five to seven minutes.

4. Add in garlic and sauté for another thirty seconds.

5. Add in kale, chipotle peppers, paprika, oregano, chili powder, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, drained red beans, and 8 cups water.
6. Bring to a boil, let boil for five minutes and reduce heat so that the beans are at a low simmer (medium-low).
7. Add water as needed and cook until the beans are tender, about and hour and a half to two hours.
8. Remove from heat and stir in the tamari. Season generously with salt and pepper.

9. To serve: divide the rice and beans between four bowls. Garnish with green onions and serve right away.