Vegan Red Beans and Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 yellow onion
• 4 stalks celery
• 1/2 green pepper
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans (3 cups cooked)
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley, to garnish
• Hot sauce, to garnish

Instructions

1. Cook the rice according to package instructions.
2. Dice the onion and celery. Dice the pepper. Mince the garlic.
3. In a large saucepan (or dutch oven), warm the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion, celery, and pepper for 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 2 minutes more; watch the pan to avoid burning the garlic.
4. Meanwhile, drain and rinse the red beans. When the vegetables are ready, add the beans, diced tomatoes with their liquid, and vegetable broth. Stir in the cayenne pepper, paprika, oregano, thyme, 2 bay leaves, kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper.
5. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Meanwhile, roughly chop the parsley leaves.
6. When simmering is complete, remove the bay leaves and serve the beans over rice. Garnish with chopped parsley and hot sauce.

Credit: A Couple Cooks