Red Beans and Rice
1 pound dried red kidney beans
2 quarts cold water
1 meaty ham bone or shank
1/2 pound hot sausage
1 bunch 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 tobasco sauce
salt
pepper
White rice (not instant)
1.) Rinse kidney beans twice. Discard any that look bad. Put beans in
big, heavy pot, at least 3 quart size (4 quart is better.)
2.) Add water, ham and sausage (NOTE: The sausage can be also be served
on the side or added to the beans during step 4). Set uncovered on a burner
at medium heat. While beans are soaking and warming, chop and add scallions,
green pepper, celery and onions. Then add thyme and bay leaves.
3.) When mixture boils, reduce heat and cover. Stir every 20-30 minutes
for 3 hours. Then, with a wooden spoon, mash about one fourth of the beans
against the side of the pot. If they don't mash easily, try again in half
an hour. (Also, the meat should be falling off the ham bone around this
time, so you might want to get rid of the bones around this time, while
you can still find them!!)
4.) Forty minutes after mashing the beans, taste and season with cayenne
pepper or tobasco sauce. (Don't use too much; this is supposed to be delicious,
but subtly flavored.) Cook for another half hour while preparing white rice.
5.) Ladle beans and sauce over rice and serve. Have a bottle of tobasco
on the table for those that like to spice it up!! YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's hard to believe, but all the vegetables cook away to nothing. The mashed
beans thicken the sauce to a creamy consistancy. It's even more flavorful
rewarmed after a night in the refrigerator. It also freezes really well,
so go ahead and make lots!!
OK, now for the funny story: The first time I made Red Beans and Rice,
I bought a *kit* when I was in new Orleans. When I found this recipe, it
originally called for 1 pound of dried red beans. Went to the grocery store,
nothing labled red beans, went to the ethnic ailse... nothing... went to
several grocery stores.... nothing. Finally got my hubby (at the time, now
EX) to drive me up to North Minneapolis to any or all neighborhood grocery
stores, if that's what it took. This area of town is predominately black
(and now so full of gangs, there's not enough money in the world to get
me there). I finally asked someone where the hell could I find red beans?!?!?!?!
Imagine my chagrin when I was told that red beans are nothing more than
kidney beans!!!!
I have a feeling that this niave little white girl from the burbs made
a great story at someone's dinner table that night!! BTW, I have seen kidney
beans labled red beans in the stores now....... Think someone called the
bean people and told them that these poor white folks aren't real bright
and need help???
~~Katie
Submitted by KatieLiz11@aol.com |