Awesome Red Beans and Rice

lolablitz's Note:

This is a great, fool-proof recipe from someone who lived in Nawlins and wishes she still did.

• Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 (1 lb) package red kidney beans
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 4 celery ribs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1 ½-2 tablespoons creole seasoning or 1 ½-2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
• 3 garlic cloves
• 8 cups water
• 1 lb smoked sausage (I have used chorizo which is good, but andouille is best)
• cooked rice (at least 3 cups)

Directions:

1. Soak kidney beans overnight OR rinse beans and add to pot, cover with 8 cups water and bring to boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then turn off heat and let sit, covered for one hour.
2. Pour out water and add 8 cups fresh water.
3. Chop onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic.
4. Add to beans.
5. Add salt, pepper, thyme, seasoned salt, and Creole seasoning.
6. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. When you stir, be sure to mash the beans against the sides of the pot. This creates a creamier texture.
7. Slice the sausage into 1/4 inch pieces and add to beans. Cook for an additional 30 minutes.
8. Serve Red Beans over hot, steaming rice. Serve Jiffy cornbread on side (add 1 stick of butter and an extra egg to the recipe
9. for some kick-ass cornbread!).

Reviews

[Darkhunter]

Great recipe. I did make one sub and that was to use red beans instead of kidney beans. A real Southern gal would never use KIDNEY beans! The seasoning was right on. I surely wish I'd had andouille, but had to settle for plain smoked. Thnx for sharing your recipe, lolablitz. Made for PAC Spring 2010. You've been adopted! http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=327498&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[PaulaG]

Nothing like red beans and rice served with Kato's Cornbread, green onions and Authentic Southern Fried Okra to round things out. I did adjust this to cook it in the crock pot. The water was reduced to about 6 cups.