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From Nola Cuisine Images – (reedited)

Well it’s Monday again, and I made the traditional New Orleans lunch of Red Beans & Rice, this time with a side of Saturday’s Chaurice sausage. As I’ve said in the past, Red Beans & Rice is always fun for me to cook because I change the recipe everytime I make it. This one was probabaly the best batch I’ve made in years, so I’ll honor it with a side of Louis Armstrong singing and playing Basin Street Blues, because Red Beans & Rice just don’t seem right without Louis Armstrong.
I love reading Red Beans & Rice recipes, even though I can whip up a batch in my sleep, I’m forever browsing different recipes for new ideas. Check out my friend Tim’s recipes at Cooking with Herbsaint Absinthe: Red Beans My way and Creole Style Red Beans & Rice.

Here is my latest Moday creation. The recipe:

Red Beans & Rice Recipe with Chaurice Sausage

2 Tbsp Duck Fat
2 Tbsp Creole Seasoning
1 Cup Onion, chopped
1/2 Cup Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1/4 Cup Celery, Chopped
1 Cup Andouille Sausage, Cubed
1/2 lb. Small Red Beans (soaked overnight or for at least a few hours)
1 Tbsp Fresh Garlic, Minced
1 Smoked Ham hock
3 1/2 Cups Chicken Stock (You could certainly use water)
3 Fresh Bay Leaves
A bundle of fresh Thyme
2 Tbsp Homemade Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp Crystal Hot sauce
1/2 Cup Tomato Sauce (I learned this from Louis Armstrong’s Recipe)
1 Tbsp Italian Parsley, Finely Chopped
1/4 Cup Green Onions, thinly sliced on the bias
1/2 Recipe Creole Boiled Rice

Mix together the Holy Trinity (Onions, Celery, Bell Pepper). Drain the beans.
Melt the duck fat over medium heat.
Add 1/2 of the Holy Trinity, 1 Tbsp of the Creole Seasoning and the Andouille, turn the heat to medium high. Cook this for about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the vegetables start to get some color.
Add the beans and cook stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.
Add the Chicken Stock or Water, Garlic, Bay Leaves, Thyme, Ham hock the remaining Trinity and Creole Seasoning. Bring this to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let this simmer for 2- 2 1/2 Hours. The first hour is low maintenance; an occasional stir and making sure the beans are covered with liquid. The second hour, you want to check back a little more often, the beans will really start to absorb some liquid and you don’t want them to stick.

Remove the Ham hock, trim away any meat and add it back to the pot.
After the beans have cooked for two hours, add the Tomato Sauce, the Parsley and 1/2 of the Green Onions. Make your Rice. Cook the beans for another half hour.

For the Chaurice:
Place the link(s) of Chaurice in a medium sized cast iron skillet. Cover half way with water and bring to a boil. Turn often, as the water evaporates until all that is left in the pan is fat from the sausage. Brown the casings of the sausage in the remaining fat, serve hot.

To Serve:
Remove the Bay Leaves. Mound a half cup of Rice each, onto two serving plates, Cover with a generous helping of the Red Beans, Garnish with the remaining Green Onions. Make sure their is a bottle of hot sauce on the table. Perfect compliments to this meal are a simple vinaigrette salad, a side of Chaurice, Good Crusty French Bread, and your favorite Ice Cold Beer.

As promised, here is the late, great Louis Armstrong performing Basin Street Blues:

More Red Beans & Rice Posts:

Red Beans & Rice Recipe
Red Beans & Rice with Fried Pork Chop
Red Beans & Rice with Louis Armstrong performing Dinah

Be sure and check out my ever growing Index of Creole & Cajun Recipes!

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