Cream-Style Red Beans and Rice

Another great Cajun Beans and rice recipe! If you don't care for tomatoes, try this recipe.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1  cup  chopped onion
• 1  cup  chopped green bell pepper
• 1  cup  chopped celery
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 5  cups water
• 1⁄2 lb smoked ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄8 teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 2  bay leaves
• 12  ounces  dried red beans, soaked in water overnight and drained
• 1⁄2 lb  fully cooked smoked andouille sausages or 1⁄2 lb  other smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2  tablespoons tomato paste
•  hot cooked rice

Directions

1. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic; cook and stir 2 minutes. Stir in water, ham, salt, thyme, oregano, black pepper, ground red pepper and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer 1 hour.
2. Add beans to ham mixture; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 1 hour or until beans are tender.
3. Carefully ladle 1 cup bean mixture into food processor or blender container. Cover; process until mixture is smooth. Returnpureed mixture to Dutch oven; stir in sausage and tomato paste.
4. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat 10 minutes or until thickened and bubbly, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves; discard. Serve in bowls over hot cooked rice.