Shotgun Red Beans And Rice Recipes

SHOTGUN RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Day 1: Add enough water to the red beans to cover them by 3 or 4 inches, and soak overnight in the refrigerator.
• As the beans absorb the water; they'll more than double in volume.
• Day 2: Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl.
• Drain the beans and set them aside.
• Preheat a heavy 5-quart pot, preferrably non-stick, over high heat to 350 degrees, about 4 minutes.
• Add 2 CUPS of the onions, the bell peppers, and the celery, and 1 TABLESPOON of the seasoning mix.
• Stir and cook until the vegetables start to turn brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add 1/2 CUP of the stock, scrape the bottom of the pot to clear all the browned bits, and cook 3 minutes.
• Add the REMAINING 1 cup of onions, stir, and cook 5 minutes.
• Add the drained beans, 5 CUPS of the stock, and the REMAINING seasoning mix.
• Stir and cook for 45 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally to check for sticking.
• Add 1 CUP grape juice and continue to cook for 25 minutes.
• CAUTION: At this point, the starches in the beans start to break down and sticking will occur more often.
• It is therefore important to check and clear the bottom of the pan frequently.
• Add the REMAINING stock and grape juice, turn the heat to medium, and cook until the beans are tender, and the liquid is thick and begins to look creamy, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Serve over the rice.
• NOTES: Red beans with rice is an old traditional New Orleans Monday supper dish.
• Monday used to be wash day, and the story goes that the beans could simmer while the laundry was being done.
• When the wash was finished, so were the beans.
• In the past, in order to make the beans really good, the cook started off with a lot of oil.
• While this recipe eliminates the oil, it still is mouth-watering.
• MAKES ABOUT 7 CUPS, ENOUGH FOR 6 MAIN-DISH SERVINGS.

CHEF JOHN'S RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Place beans in a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir sausage in hot oil until oils slightly release from sausage and edges brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir onion, celery, and poblano pepper into sausage; cook and stir until vegetables soften and start to turn translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir garlic into sausage mixture; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir red beans, chicken broth, ham hock, bay leaves, black pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper, and hot sauce into the sausage mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours. Add salt and continue simmering until beans are soft, meat is tender, and desired consistency is reached, 1 1/2 to 2 hours more. Season with salt.
• Spoon rice into bowls, ladle red beans mixture over rice, and top with green onion.

RED BEANS AND RICE WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Pick over the dried beans, and soak them in water overnight.
• The next day, drain off the soaking water, and place the beans in a large pot or slow cooker. Cover with water, and stir in the dried garlic and onion, salt, bay leaf, sugar, cayenne pepper, celery seed, cumin, and crushed red pepper flakes. Push the ham hock down into the beans. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer over low heat for 3 to 4 hours.
• Stir in the smoked sausage, simmer for 20 more minutes, and serve.