Red kidney beans are lighter in color and larger than small red beans with a slightly grainy texture. Small red beans are a deep crimson, relatively small, and incredibly nutty and creamy. Native to the Caribbean, small red beans found their way into New Orleans cuisine by way of enslaved West Africans. The nutty beans are traditional in South and Central American cuisines and many spicy West African soups and stews. Small red beans are the only beans some Louisiana natives cook for red beans and rice. But red kidney beans are also a traditional and popular choice for the New Orleans mainstay dish.