Easy Low-Fat Vegan Louisiana Red Bean Skillet! Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a healthy, low-fat option that doesn’t sacrifice taste or comfort.
Looking for a wholesome, easy-to-make vegan dinner that hits all the right Southern comfort notes? This Low-Fat Vegan Louisiana Red Bean Skillet is your new go-to recipe! Packed with tender red beans simmered in a flavorful blend of authentic Cajun spices, bell peppers, and aromatic herbs, this hearty dish delivers bold Louisiana flavors with plant-based ingredients.
Whole Food Plant Based, Vegan, plant based, oil free, refined sugar free, no highly processed ingredients and gluten free.
Hi there, Ameera here!
If you’re on the hunt for authentic Southern Louisiana comfort food that’s healthy and easy to prepare, then this Vegan Louisiana Red Bean Skillet is exactly what you need! Loaded with rich flavors and hearty beans, it’s a crowd-pleaser you’ll want to make again and again.
You gotta give this one a try!
Tips for Success:
- Flavor Profile: This Easy Low-Fat Vegan Louisiana Red Bean Skillet is easy to make, low-fat, and hearty to eat. Tender beans are bathed in delicious and authentic flavors making this tasty dish Southern comfort food that is healthy to eat and easily a crowd favorite.
- Low-Fat Dish Expectations: This dish was designed to be low in fat. Because it is low in fat, you are not going to experience that endorphin rush associated with eating high-fat foods when eating this dish. It is very tasty for what it is, and that is a low-fat dish. We just want to make sure that our Readers recognize this when contemplating making this recipe.
- Liquid Smoke: The liquid smoke gives excellent dimension to this dish; however, if you prefer to leave it out, you can; however, you may need adjust other spices accordingly (increase the smoked paprika or other herbs and spices).
- Spices/Herbs: Feel free to increase/decrease the spices and herbs to suit your own personal preferences.
- Cayenne Pepper: Leave the cayenne pepper out until near the end as to have a better understanding of the flavor profile before adding the cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper tends to overwhelm other spices.
- Dried Crushed Thyme Leaves: If you can’t find dried crushed thyme leaves, you can use ground thyme but use half the amount.
- Kidney Bean Substitutions: We used kidney beans; however, feel free to use your favorite bean.
- Broth/Water: The broth is on the thinner side; however, if you continue to low-boil the broth will evaporate and concentrate. We also enjoyed removing about ¼ cup of the kidney beans, then mashing them into a paste, then returning and mixing into the broth to slightly thicken it. This is an optional step, but we felt it very slightly thickened the broth and added nice flavor.
- Table Salt: If using table salt, you should use less table salt than the amount listed in the ingredients as sea salt crystals are larger than table salt crystals. Since table salt crystals are very fine, less table salt is required to season a dish. We would suggest starting with about 1/4 to 1/2 the amount of sea salt listed. You can always add more salt but cannot take it away. We recommend using sea salt as it is less refined than table salt.
Leftovers and Freezing:
Leftovers will generally keep 5 days in the refrigerator. Store in a covered container.
This dish can be frozen.
Pantry Products:
- Vegetable Stock: We use Pacific Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Stock. We love this brand because it is Whole Food Plant Based compliant, as it does not contain MSG, has no oil, and does not contain any highly-processed ingredients.
- Liquid Smoke: We used Colgin Natural Hickory Liquid Smoke. Feel free to use your favorite liquid smoke.
- Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
Kitchen Equipment:
- Large skillet with lid
If you try this flavorful dish, we would love to know if you enjoy it as much as we do! Please leave us a review! Post a picture on Facebook or Instagram and tag us! We would love to hear from you.
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Easy Low-Fat Vegan Louisiana Red Bean Skillet
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 35 Minutes
- Total Time: 50 Minutes
- Yield: 6 Cups 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Low-Fat Vegan Louisiana Red Bean Skillet is packed with tender red beans simmered in a flavorful blend of authentic Cajun spices.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients:
- 1 large yellow onion, fine dice
- 2 medium celery ribs, small dice
- 1 red bell pepper, small dice
- 1 green bell pepper, small dice
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth *
- 2 cups water *
- ½ teaspoon hickory flavored liquid smoke *
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Other Ingredients:
- 3 – [ 15.5 oz. cans ] kidney beans, drained and rinsed *
Spice/Herb Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano (+/-)
- ¾ teaspoon dried crushed thyme leaves (+/-) *
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika (+/-)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (+/-)
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ to 1 teaspoon sea salt (+/-) *
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (+/-)
- Pinch cayenne pepper (+/-)
- 2 bay leaves
Serving Ideas:
- Steamed rice
- Boiled or baked potatoes
- Cooked quinoa
Instructions
- Place all the Spice/Herb Ingredients (except the cayenne pepper and bay leaves) into a small bowl, whisk to combine, set aside until Step 4.
- In a large skillet, add the diced onions, celery, and bell peppers, sauté over medium-high heat for 7 to 10 minutes or until the onions, celery, and peppers are perfectly tender, add a splash of water, if needed to avoid burning.
- Then lower the heat to medium, add the minced garlic, sauté, stir constantly for one minute.
- Then add all the remaining Base Ingredients and the Spice/Herb Mix to the skillet, stir to incorporate, bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately lower to a simmer. Simmer for several minutes.
- Add the kidney beans, stir to incorporate, tuck in the bay leaves and simmer at a medium-low boil for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, then taste test, adjust seasonings if needed, add the cayenne pepper, stir well, and simmer for several minutes until the broth reduces to the desired amount.
- If desired to thicken the broth slightly, fish out about ¼ cup of kidney beans, mash them into a paste, then return and stir well to incorporate.
- Once finished, remove from the stove, cover the skillet and allow to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to marry, then fish out the bay leaves (discard), serve with steamed rice, boiled or baked potatoes.
Notes
*Please reference the blog post for Tips for Success, Pantry Items Used, Storage and Freezing, and Kitchen Products Used.
*Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
*Servings: 4 (6 cups)
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