Vegan Recipe: Red Beans & Rice with Zesty Avocado Sauce

Red Beans & Rice with Zesty Avocado Sauce

Mmmm comfort food. Red beans and rice make me think of my Mom and warm summer nights. When you want something hearty but not heavy. It is family food all over. Authentic red beans and rice is a Louisiana staple, 'Rice and Peas' a Jamaican delicacy. Cuban, Haitian, and African peoples all kick it with kidney beans. And with good reason, because not only is red beans and rice delicious, but it's also full of all kinds of nutritious goodness. When my Mama put them beans on the table she was serving up a good source of Omega 3, Omega 6, Protein, Thiamin, Manganese and even a little bit of Vitamin B6. Thanks Ma.

For this recipe I went for a method that I don't see very often but that I actually really love, which is to saute the beans in a little bit of oil until they get some chewy crispiness on them. This means that they're not as saucy as what my Mom used to make, but they're quick and give me a perfectly good excuse to add an avocado into the mix.

Red Beans & Rice with Zesty Avocado Sauce

Serves 2

1 can of rinsed kidney beans
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 large onion
1  chopped bell pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp cumin seed
1 pinch Cayenne pepper
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 avocado
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro aka coriander
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons water

     You'll need to cook some rice for this...in the normal way that you cook rice 

1. In a frying pan, cook onion and garlic on a medium heat until the onions have gone soft. Next add the bell pepper to the mix, letting them cook through until they are soft as too. Don't rush this part because  beans won't take long at all.
2. Add cumin seeds to the pan and mix through.
3. Next add the rinsed and drained beans, keeping back a little bit so to splash into the pan if it starts looking a little dry. Season with cayenne pepper, salt and lemon juice. Cook until the beans are hot and starting to get a little crunchy bits...this might take a minute, so keep your eye on it while you whip up the avocado part...
4. Put avocado, cilantro (coriander), lemon juice and water into a blender or food processor and blend until you've got a juicy sauce.
5. Serve beans on rice with a dollop of avocado sauce on top.