Dook Chase's Red Beans and Rice

Image by: Camellia Brand

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. red kidney beans

  • 2 quarts + 2 cups water, divided

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

  • 1 lb. smoked ham, cubed

  • 1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced in ½-inch rounds

  • 1 tbsp. minced garlic

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 tbsp. pepper

  • 2 tbsp. chopped parsley

  • 1 tsp. dried thyme

  • 2 tbsp. salt

Procedure

Wash beans well and sort through them, removing any partial or bad beans. Place sorted beans in a 5-quart pot. Add 2 quarts water and chopped onion and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow beans to gently boil for 1 hour, or until beans are soft. Once beans are soft, stir well, mashing some against the side of the pot. Reduce heat to simmer.

While beans continue to cook, add oil to a skillet over medium heat. Sauté ham and sausage for 5 minutes. Pour ham, sausage, and oil into pot with beans. Deglaze skillet with 2 cups water and add to beans.

Add remaining ingredients and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Beans should be nice and creamy. Serve over rice.

Poppy TookerComment