The Food Lab Junior: Dakota’s Red Beans and Rice

A simplified version of New Orleans-style red beans and rice is a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen (and it also happens to be delicious).

Red Beans and Rice With Smoked Turkey

The Louisiana meal of red beans and rice is typically made with pork: smoked, salted, roasted, or pickled. Those all work well in this recipe (a pound of sliced and browned andouille sausage would be our choice), but the beans also shine with smoked turkey.

Creole-Style Red Jambalaya With Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp

Red Creole jambalaya is a New Orleans classic, loaded with meats, seafood, and tomatoes. A trip to the oven guarantees you don't end up with a burnt layer of rice on the bottom of your pot.

Cuban Black Beans and Rice

Classic Cuban sides for all kinds of meals.

Hearty One-Pot Black-Eyed Pea Stew With Kale and Andouille

This easy black eyed pea stew starts with andouille sausage and pork belly cooked until browned and crisped, then gets flavored with the Holy Trinity of Cajun cuisine: onions, celery, and green bell peppers, along with some leeks and garlic for extra flavor. Tender braised kale transform this into a full-on meal, while a shot of apple cider vinegar brightens up all the flavors.

Colombian-Style Beans and Rice

The greatest bean dinner is called the bandeja paisa: Beans, rice, arepas, fried green or black plantains, avocado, a thin slice of grilled steak, deep fried pork rinds (known as chicharrones), a chorizo or two, a side of ají to sauce everything up, and a fried egg to top it off.

Creole Succotash from 'Treme'

The succotash I grew up eating was a simple side dish of lima beans, corn, onion, black pepper, and a big hunk of butter. But despite my familiarity with the basic version, I am open to different interpretations of the dish (as long as it still contains butter, corn, and limas, of course). This creole succotash from the Treme cookbook is kind of like a tricked out version of the classic. In addition to the requisite vegetables, you'll find okra, celery, bell pepper, shrimp, and two kinds of pork...

Jamaican Peas and Rice

A subtle, slightly sweet coconut aroma—along with Scotch bonnet, thyme, scallion, ginger, and garlic—encompasses every bite of this classic Jamaican dish.

Black Beans and Rice with Bacon

A bowl of black beans and rice is pure comfort food, at least for me. But I'm always looking for new tricks, because while the concept sounds simple, it's surprisingly easy to end up with a batch that is dry and flavorless.

Cajun Gumbo With Chicken and Andouille Sausage

Cajun gumbo is the tomato-free version of this legendary and completely customizable Louisiana stew. This recipe uses a classic combo of chicken and andouille sausage, but feel free to change it up with other proteins.