Why Red Beans and Rice are a Louisiana Monday Tradition

LOUISIANA (KMDL-FM) - In Louisiana, we have a lot of traditions. In some cases, too many to even keep track of or remember even if you've lived here your whole life. One long standing tradition throughout Louisiana, especially in New Orleans, is eating red beans and rice on Mondays.

As with all traditions, there's always a back story and reasons why we do certain things and even when we do them, and eating red beans and rice on Mondays is no exception.

Let's take a look at why eating red beans and rice on Mondays is such a long standing Louisiana tradition...

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

The Practical Reason Behind Red Beans On Monday

Before modern appliances, Monday was widely known as “wash day.” Louisiana families spent Mondays day doing laundry by hand, a time-intensive chore that didn’t allow for spending the day cooking over a hot stove.

Red beans and rice became the perfect "set it and forget it" meal on wash day for a few reasons.

You could let a pot of red beans simmer at low heat throughout the day without having to give them much attention while doing laundry.

Another key part of this Louisiana tradition is the use of leftovers. In many Louisiana homes, Sunday dinner featured ham or pork, and the leftover bones were tossed into the pot on Monday to simmer with the red beans while laundry was being tended to.

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How The Tradition Became Cultural

In Louisiana, even after modern appliances became available for laundry, we just kept with the red beans on Mondays because...if it ain't broke don't fix it, right?

From thekitchenknowhow.com -

Even long after washing machines replaced washboards, the Monday custom lived on. Red beans and rice became an embraced symbol of New Orleans and Louisiana cuisine, appearing on menus and in homes throughout the region.

Today, many restaurants still offer Red Beans and Rice specials on Mondays, and locals often plan their weekly meals around this tradition.

(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Red beans and rice is one of, if not Louisiana's biggest comfort food. Influenced by Creole and Caribbean influences, a delicious hot bowl or plate of red beans served over white rice is something that just can't be turned down, nor should it be, whether it's Monday or not.