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RED BEANS & RICE

Source of Recipe

AllieK


List of Ingredients

1 pound dried red kidney beans
2 quarts of cold water
1 meaty ham bone or a thick slice of raw ham, cut into cubes
1/2 pound hot sausage. sliced thick
1 bunch of scallions, including green tops
1 green pepper
2 stalks celery
3 medium-sized onions
Large pinch of ground thyme
4 bay leaves
Cayenne pepper or tabasco sauce
Salt
Pepper
White rice (not instant)



Recipe

1. Rinse kidney beans twice, Discard any that look bad. Put beans in a large, heavy pot, at least a 3-quart size. 4-quart is better
2. Add water, ham, and sausage. Set uncovered on a burner at medium heat. While the beans are soaking and warming, chop and add scallions, green pepper, celery and onions. Then add thyme and bay leaves.
3. When the mixture boils, reduce heat and cover. Stir every 20-30 minutes for 3 hours. Then with a wooden spoon, mash about 1/4th of the beans against the side of the pot. If they don't mash easily, try again after half and hour.
4. Forty minutes after mashing the beans, taste and season with cayenne pepper or tabasco sauce. (Don't use too much; this is supposed to be delicious but subtly flavored) Cook for another half hour while preparing the rice.
5. Ladle beans and sauce over rice and serve.
It's hard to believe, but all the vegetables cook away to nothing. The mashed beans thicken the sauce to a creamy consistency. Its even more flavorful rewarmed after a night in the refrigerator.