Skip to main content

Kidney (Red) Beans with Ham—In New Orleans, These Beans Would be Served with Rice (Brown, of Course).

Cooks' Note

Kidney beans are among the highest in fiber content of the bean family. Although we use red kidney beans in this recipe, you could easily substitute white kidney beans, also called cannellini beans.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

1 pound dried kidney beans, rinsed and picked over
2 quarts (8 cups) water
1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham (not sugar-cured)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 large bay leaves
Ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon salt

Preparation

  1. Combine the beans and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, sauté the ham in a medium nonstick skillet over high heat until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the meat to a bowl and add the onion and garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the onion is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the ham, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and pepper to the beans. Bring back to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer until slightly tender, about 1 hour, adding more water if necessary. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Stir in the salt and serve.

Sugar Busters! Quick & Easy Cookbook
Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
The secret to juicy grilled chicken, a sheet-cake swap for banana pudding, and more reasons to light up the grill and have people over all summer long.