About
Now, don't see "beans and rice" and just click right on by. Mama Lou's Red Beans & Rice are so much more than you're giving them credit for! You can expect big flavors from all the meat, veggies, and spices these legumes are soaked in. And when we say soaked, you must know that they are simmering for hours and hours to ensure every one of those little guys is infused with all that savory goodness. Serve this heavenly concoction over some fluffy seasoned rice and you've got yourself an unlikely main you'll be craving time and time again. Mama Lou's Red Beans & Rice aren't your mama's beans and rice... they're way better!
Ingredients
- For the red beans:
- 1 (16-ounce) package dry red kidney beans, washed
- water, to taste
- 1 pound smoked ham, cut into cubes
- 1 (13-16-ounce) package andouille smoked sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch-wide coins
- 1 smoked pork hock or ham bone with meat
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 ribs celery, chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup dill or sweet pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning, such as Cavender's® All Purpose Greek Seasoning
- 5 bay leaves
- For the rice:
- 1 cup long-grain brown rice
- olive oil, to taste
- sea salt, to taste
- 2 cups water
- green onions, to taste, sliced, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -In a large pot, add the beans and enough of the extra water to cover them by about 2 inches.
Step 2 -Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil.
Step 3 -Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the beans until they are soft, about 1 hour.
Step 4 -Transfer the pot from the heat.
Step 5 -Add the smoked ham, the sausage pieces, the ham hock, the onions, the celery, the bell peppers, the pickle juice, the garlic, the Greek seasoning, and the bay leaves to the beans and stir to combine.
Step 6 -Pour enough of the extra water over the ham mixture so that it covers the mixture by about 1 inch. Stir to combine.
Step 7 -Bring the ham mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce it to a low simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beans are very soft and the mixture is creamy, about 3-4 hours.
Step 8 -About 15 minutes before serving, in a medium pot, combine the rice, the oil, the salt, and the remaining 2 cups of the water and bring it to a boil.
Step 9 -Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the rice until it is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Step 10 -Evenly add the cooked rice to serving bowls and top with equal amounts of the bean mixture.
Step 11 -Serve the beans and the rice garnished with the green onions.
