A true comfort food, these thick, creamy and spicy Cajun red beans are a guilt-free dinner. This Instant Pot red beans and rice recipe calls for no oil at all, so it's a low fat, plant-based, vegetarian, full-flavored crowd pleaser.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr10 minutesmins
Additional Time10 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr40 minutesmins
Course: Comfort Food
Cuisine: Southern
Keyword: cajun, dinner, instant pot, kidney beans, new orleans, pressure cooker, red beans, red beans and rice, rice
Pick through dry beans and remove any pebbles or bad beans. Rinse beans in a colander under water and set aside.
Turn Instant Pot (6 quart size or bigger) on to sauté setting and allow pan to heat up.
Add onion and celery and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally but allowing the veggies to brown or char a little (this adds depth of flavor to the beans).
Add garlic and parsley, stir to combine and cook another 3 minutes.
Add the beans, water, cajun seasoning, pepper and bay leaves to the Instant Pot and stir to combine.
Put the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the valve to "Sealing".
Turn the Instant Pot off by pushing the cancel button. Now, press the "beans" (or manual pressure) button and increase the time to 60 minutes by pushing the + button. It will beep several times and start building up pressure to cook your beans.
While the beans are cooking, make your rice (white or brown) according to package directions and set aside, covered.
Once the time has elapsed and the Instant Pot has beeped several times, use a long kitchen utensil (like the big spoon you used to stir your beans) to turn the valve to "Venting". Be careful! This steam that escapes can burn you. This will allow the pressure to release quickly.
Once all the steam has released, open the lid and stir the beans. Check the beans to make sure they are tender. If they are not done, close the lid, turn the valve to "Sealing" and cook on high pressure another 5 minutes. Repeat, as necessary until beans are tender.
Once the beans are tender, turn the Instant Pot off by pushing the cancel button. Then, press the saute button. This will boil the beans and allow them to thicken up a bit. Saute/boil the beans for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently to scrape the bottom of the insert pan. Using the spoon you've been stirring the beans with, crush some beans into the side of the pan. This will help thicken the broth and make your beans creamier.
Once the beans have reached the thickness you want, turn the Instant Pot off. Serve with rice.
Video
Notes
To substitute Tony Chachere's creole seasoning, add to taste: salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, chili powder and garlic powder.