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Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb dry small red beans
- 1 1/2 to 2 lbs meaty ham shanks
- 4 cups water
- 4 cloves garlic
minced
- 1 large onion
chopped, about 2 cups
- 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons of Cajun or Creole seasoning or to taste*
Tony Chachere's or Zatarains
- Tabasco sauce **
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked white rice
from about 3 cups raw rice
Directions
- 1
Soak the beans: Place dried beans in a large bowl and cover them with cold water by a couple of inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. (You can quick soak them by putting them in a bowl and pouring boiling water over them, covering them by 2 inches, then letting them soak for two hours.) Drain.
- 2
Cook the beans with ham, garlic, onion, water: Place beans, ham shanks, garlic, chopped onion, and water in a large (8-quart) pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover, simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
- 3
Separate the meat from bones: Remove ham shanks from the pot to a dish. Let cool slightly then shred the meat away from the bones. Return the meat back to the pot.
- 4
Add the vegetables and seasonings: Add the celery, bell peppers, Worcestershire and seasonings. Cover and cook for another hour or until the mixture gets thick. Season to taste with Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper. Serve over rice.
Red Beans and Rice
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About this Recipe
Craving a taste of authentic Louisiana comfort food? This classic Red Beans and Rice recipe brings the soulful flavors of the South right to your kitchen, offering a hearty and deeply satisfying meal.
The magic of this dish lies in the slow simmering of dry small red beans with meaty ham shanks. This patient cooking allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a rich, savory depth. The aromatic combination of onion, celery, and bell pepper forms a foundational trinity that builds an incomparable flavor base, setting this dish apart from rushed versions.
You'll be rewarded with a generous bowl of tender, creamy red beans, profoundly infused with smoky ham and aromatic vegetables. Each spoonful delivers a robust, savory experience with a comforting texture, perfectly complemented by a bed of fluffy white rice. This is a truly filling and flavorful meal that embodies the essence of slow-cooked Southern cuisine, a comforting hug in a bowl.
For a delicious twist, you could experiment with adding smoked sausage in addition to or instead of some of the ham shanks. Feel free to adjust the Cajun or Creole seasoning to match your preferred spice level, and a few dashes of Tabasco sauce can always add an extra kick. Remember to season with salt and pepper to taste throughout the cooking process, ensuring the flavors are perfectly balanced.
Serve this deeply satisfying Red Beans and Rice as a nourishing weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing dish for a casual gathering. It's a complete meal on its own, traditionally served generously over a mound of fluffy white rice.