I love red beans and rice enough to eat it every weekday. I get dried beans and brown rice for $0.99/lb. and use a can of diced tomatoes and some seasoning, so it costs less than $6 for 4 weeks' worth of weekday lunches. Rather than spend money on sausage, I use liquid smoke and soy sauce for a meaty flavor. I make a big batch and put some of it in the freezer to be thawed as needed. Every weekday, I just heat up a serving in the microwave for 90 seconds and have a healthy, filling lunch. It has lots of fiber and antioxidants, and beans and rice together form a complete protein. I don't have a scale, but I've noticed my pants feeling a little looser in the waist.
Here's how I make 10 days' worth: Soak 1 lb. small dried red beans in 6 cups water overnight in a covered bowl on the counter. In a separate bowl, soak 1 lb. brown rice in 6 cups water overnight in the fridge. Rinse beans and put in a pot with 6 cups water. Boil for 25 minutes. While they're boiling, dump the rice and water in a pot, bring to a boil, and simmer for 25 minutes. Drain excess water off the rice and put in the fridge. Rinse the beans, and put in a slow cooker with 7 cups water, 1 drained can of diced tomatoes, 2 1/2 tbsp. of your favorite Creole seasoning, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 5 drops liquid smoke, and a dash of soy sauce. Stir it all together and cook for 6 hours on high. Dump the rice in with the beans, add 1 tbsp. vegetable oil (to help you absorb fat-soluble nutrients), and mix together. The hot beans will heat up the cold rice.
August 23, 2018 at 12:05PM
