Red Beans With Rice

lauralie41's Note:

I found this recipe on Foodnetwork.com and updated my adopted recipe to include these additions. Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001 Show: Emeril Live Episode: Emeril's Creole Creation

• Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 lb dried red beans , rinsed and sorted over
• 3 tablespoons bacon grease
• ¼ cup tasso , or ham chopped, tasso is cajun seasoned pork
• 1 ½ cups yellow onions , chopped
• ¾ cup celery , chopped
• ¾ cup green bell pepper , chopped
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper , freshly ground
• ½ teaspoon cayenne , or to taste
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley , chopped
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• ½ lb smoked sausage , split in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 lb smoked ham hock
• 3 tablespoons garlic , chopped
• 10 cups chicken stock or 10 cups water
• 4 cups cooked white rice
• ¼ cup green onion , chopped for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large bowl or pot add the beans and cover with water by 2 inches.
2. Soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large pot over medium-high heat melt the bacon grease . Add the tasso or ham and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
4. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes.
5. Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes.
6. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.).
7. Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes.
8. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.
9. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.

Reviews

[Kittencalskitchen]

We really enjoyed this dish although I made some amount adjustments and only used smoked sausage, and omitted the parsley and add in 2 tablespoons crushed red chili flakes (we like things super spicy!) and also added 6 large minced garlic cloves, thanks for sharing this yummy recipe Lori!

[shanel]

i found to be a wonderful adaption of New Orleans red beans great southern comfort food

[puppitypup]

Outstanding! The flavor is just perfect and mashing the beans made the consistency just right too. I put it in the crockpot after sauteeing the meat and veggies and it made a wonderful dinner. Thank you Lauralie!