Red Beans and Rice

   To add rice to the beans, or beans to the rice.... That is my question. Cajun food leaves a lot of room for experimentation with heat levels, seafood, sausages and meats. Alligator or chicken? Boudin or Andouille? Shrimp or crawfish? It's a mad scientists playground!

   Now my playing field is slightly lessened, due to my wife being allergic to anything that swims and has scales, a carapace, or even resembles a tree nut. I'm talking trips to the ER while popping Benadryl little Skittles allergic. This mean gator or sausage, which is ok as either one is delish. Below I have the recipe for the sausage version of my red beans and rice. Enjoy, and be sure to watch me make it here!

Hungry's Red Beans and Rice

• 16oz red beans, sorted for rocks and soaked overnight
• 1 lb sausage (I use andouille )
• 1/3 cup diced bacon
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 green or red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• pinch cayenne or a few dashes of Slap ya Mama or Tony Chachere's Seasoning
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, roughly chopped
• about 10 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 cups 1/2 to 3/4 cooked white rice

Instructions

1. Place clean dried beans in a medium pot and cover with room temperature water. Allow to soak overnight before making the beans.
2. In a large soup pot over medium heat, cook pancetta until very well crisp, about 6 minutes.
3. Add the onions, celery, and bell pepper and cook until vegetables are very well done, about 8 minutes.
4. Add salt, pepper, Slap Ya Mama or Tony Chachere Seasoning, and stir to combine.
5. Stir in the garlic, parsley, thyme, and sliced sausage. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the sausage is well browned, about 5 minutes. Stir frequently.
6. Add the softened beans to the pot, the stock, and bay leaves. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for about 2 hours, uncovered, until the beans are well softened.
7. Taste and season with more salt or pepper. Also for heat, add some cayenne if you wish, though remember a little goes a long way!
8. Mix in rice and let simmer another 10 to 20 minutes until rice is done completely. 
9. Enjoy!