Red Beans and Rice

The story

A Monday tradition in New Orleans, designed for slow cooking and big flavour from affordable ingredients.

Ingredients

• Base
• 180 gram oniondiced · 180 gram onion, diced
• 120 gram celerydiced · 120 gram celery, diced
• 120 gram green bell pepperdiced · 120 gram green bell pepper, diced
• 4 piece garlic clovesminced · 4 piece garlic cloves, minced
• Beans
• 350 gram red kidney beanssoaked overnight · 350 gram red kidney beans, soaked overnight
• 900 millilitre chicken stock900 millilitre chicken stock
• Protein
• 300 gram andouille sausagesliced into coins · 300 gram andouille sausage, sliced into coins
• Seasoning
• 2 piece bay leaf2 piece bay leaf
• To serve
• 600 gram cooked white riceto serve · 600 gram cooked white rice, to serve

Method

1. Brown the sausage

   Slice andouille into coins and brown over medium heat until the edges colour, then remove.

   Look for: Sausage should have browned edges and release flavourful oil. Tip: Browning first builds the smoky base. Avoid: Do not burn the sausage; it will season the whole pot.

2. Cook the trinity

   Dice onion, celery and green pepper evenly and cook in the sausage fat for 8 minutes with garlic at the end.

   Look for: Vegetables should be soft and glossy. Tip: This is the Cajun and Creole flavour foundation. Avoid: Do not rush this base; it carries the dish.

3. Simmer beans

   Add soaked beans, stock, bay leaves and sausage. Simmer gently for 90-120 minutes until creamy.

   Look for: Some beans should collapse and thicken the pot. Tip: Mash a ladle of beans against the side to make it creamy without cream. Avoid: Do not boil aggressively or the skins split before the centres soften.

4. Serve over rice

   Taste for seasoning and spoon over hot white rice.

   Look for: Beans should be saucy enough to coat rice. Tip: A little hot sauce at the table is traditional. Avoid: Do not make the rice soupy; the beans should sit on top.

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated from the upgraded serves-2 metric ingredient list; verify with a calculator before making health claims.