Willies New Orleans Red Beans Rice Food

EMERIL'S NEW ORLEANS-STYLE RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over med-high heat. Sauté the onions, bell pepper, celery, salt, cayenne, black pepper and thyme for about 5 minutes. Add the bay leaves, ham and sausage and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes
• Add the beans, garlic and 10 cups water to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and simmered uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 2 hours.
• Add more water if the mixture becomes dry and thick.
• After about 2 hours of initial cooking use a wooden spoon to mash about half of the mixture against the side of pot.
• Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for about another hour or until the mixture is creamy and the beans are soft.
• Add more water if it becomes too thick. The mixture should be soupy but not watery.
• Remove the bay leaves and serve with steamed rice.

AUTHENTIC NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Melt shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, garlic, and bell pepper in hot shortening until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Combine water, red beans, and ham hock in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir onion mixture into the water; add smoked sausage and celery to the boiling water; return to a boil. Stir bay leaves, Creole seasoning, thyme, and sage into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 5 hours.
• Remove and discard ham hock and bay leaves; stir in hot pepper sauce and serve over white rice.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onions, bell peppers, celery, salt, cayenne, black pepper and thyme for about 5 minutes. Add the bay leaves, ham and sausage and saute for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the beans, garlic, and enough water to cover the contents in the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 2 hours. Add more water if the mixture becomes dry and thick. Use a wooden spoon to mash about half of the mixture against the side pf the pot. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the mixture is creamy and the beans are soft. Add more water if it becomes too thick. The mixture should be soupy but not watery. Remove the bay leaves and serve with steamed white rice.

WILLIE'S NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS & RICE

Steps:

• Place all but rice into a 4 qt slow cooker.
• Cook, covered at HIGH 7 hours or until beans are tender.
• Serve with hot cooked rice.
• Note: Willie adds 2T baking soda into the pot just before it is done to reduce the gas in the beans, but be careful that you don't overflow the pot like my DH did.

RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Generously coat the bottom of a large, heavy-bottom saucepan with oil. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the bell pepper and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the onions are translucent.
• Add the garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne, oregano, basil, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add the beans, ham hock and broth and simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour.
• Remove the ham hock from the pan but let the beans continue to cook. When the hock is cool enough to handle, take the meat off the bone, chop it into bite-size pieces and return it to the pan.
• Add the rice to the pan along with 1 cup water if more liquid is needed. Cook, tightly covered, until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Serve in bowls garnished with parsley.