Are These Red Beans and Rice as Good as Popeye’s?
Sneak Preview: These Red Beans and Rice are made from dried beans and fresh ingredients. But are they as good as “Popeye’s?” If you are a red beans and rice lover, you don’t want to miss this recipe.
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What is your favorite “guilty pleasure” that comes from a fast-food restaurant? Fess up! One of mine is red beans and rice from Popeye’s.
Admittedly, it’s rather humiliating when your standard of excellence for a certain food is a fast-food joint. But it’s true.
And it’s not just me. My whole family wants red beans and rice that remind us of Popeye’s.
My son is pretty sure I would never put as much fat as necessary to make my red beans taste like theirs. He might be right. But this recipe is so tasty and fresh, I don’t miss it.
The cold, rainy weather we’ve had lately is an excuse to think about cooking red beans and rice. Not that I need an excuse.
Recipe notes:
1. The secret is in the sausage.
With that in mind, buy the real andouille sausage, if possible. I love the turkey andouille from Whole Foods. If you can’t find andouille, go with kielbasa.
2. Note the long soak time with lots of SALT!
Although skeptical at first, I’m now a believer. Don’t worry. It gets rinsed off.
If you have questions or suggestions, email me privately for a quick answer: Paula at saladinajar.com. Hope to see you again soon!
Red Beans and Rice
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Ingredients
- 1 pound small red beans - rinsed and picked over
- 4 slices bacon - chopped fine
- ½ medium onion - finely chopped
- ½ cup green bell pepper - seed and finely chopped
- 1 celery rib - chopped fine
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves - 1/2 teaspoon if substituting dried
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika - I used smoked paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Ground black pepper
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 6 cups water
- 8 ounces andouille sausage - halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar - plus extra for seasoning
Instructions
- Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in 4 quarts cold water in large bowl. Add beans and allow to soak from 8 to 24 hours. Drain and rinse well.
- Fry bacon in a large Dutch oven until brown and crispy. Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Saute until softened.
- Stir in seasonings (garlic, thyme, paprika, bay leaves, cayenne pepper and ground black pepper) and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in beans, broth and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 1 hour. Beans should be just tender and liquid starting to thicken.
- Stir in diced sausage and 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar. Continue cooking beans another 30 minutes until tender and creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve over long-grain rice.
Paula Rhodes, author
I’m a retired home economist, wife, mother, grandmother, and creator of Saladinajar.com. I believe you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Here you’ll find time-saving tips, troubleshooting advice, and confidence-inspiring recipes to make life in the kitchen more fun, appetizing, and satisfying.