Red beans and rice (cooker, steam, onions, garlic)

[nezlie]

I made some red beans and rice which come in a box already seasoned, you just add margarine or olive oil. And like every other time I've made them, they come out gummy. Now when I make the black beans and rice, same pre-seasoned type in a box, they turn out fluffy. Anyone know why this is?

[Chimuelojones]

It may be that the red beans have more starch. Try not to boil the mix, simmer at the lowest temp that produces steam on a covered pot. Under cook by a few [5] minutes per the boxes instruction and let sit covered. when you serve use a smaller spoon or fluf with a fork.

The beans and rice most likely are already cooked and dehydrated in the box, you are just rehydrating them.

good luck.

[lubby]

I make it from scratch and add the red beans (canned) at the end. I don't do it the traditional way I make my own version but we both like it. I boil rice, then I add to it saute'd onions garlic, sazon, herbs,olive oil and then the red beans.

[Cliffie]

I strongly suggest you write to the company that makes the two mixes and let themn know about the problem. They can probably fix it from the front end.

[DontLookPhoto]

Whenever we cook up a box of Zatarain's red beans and rice it always comes out soupy.
We live at about 2,900 feet in elevation so we use less water and cook it a bit longer uncovered to fix it.
It always came out a bit soupy for us even when we lived at sea level and all the other Zatarain products also seem to come out kind of wet.

[nezlie]

I found this article that also says to use less water.

The directions in the box say 3 1/4 cups water.

How much would you cut that down to?

Boil enough water for all of the Zatarain's red beans and rice mix. Use less water than directed if you don't want the rice to have a soupy consistency.

Holiday Recipes: Red Beans, Rice and a Little Cheating - Chicago Heights, IL Patch

[missik999]

I make red beans and rice in my rice cooker and they are never soupy.