Red Beans and Rice

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Red beans and Rice is not a dish that originated in the Rocky Mountains but it is especially comforting on a cold snowy day like today. I found my first Red Beans & Rice right where it is at home, in New Orleans about 40 years ago in a little restaurant near the waterfront. That little restaurant in New Orleans never saw a day like the one we are having in Colorado today. I have 30 inches of snow in my front meadow. This has been the earliest heavy snow in memory. The Red Beans and Rice are going to warm us on this beautiful, but cold, Rocky Mountain day

My recipe has been “borrowed” from authentic sources without too much deviation . I am sure I will hear if I miss a local authentic element from some bayou town with it’s own special twist. Cajun and Creole dishes are like Zydeco bands. They have a common theme and beat but if you listen closely they each add a bit of personal seasoning.

Buck’s Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

1 lb. dried red kidney beans
½ cup thinly sliced green onions
1 medium onion, diced
½ green bell pepper , diced
1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
1 tsp. black pepper
1 ½ tsp salt
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp.dried thyme
3 tablespoons minced parsley
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 lb. cured ham diced

Soak Beans overnight in a cool spot. Discard Water

Preparation and Cooking of the Beans

Rinse beans in fresh water and discard rinse water
Place beans in a lidded sauce pan with several inches of liquid to cover
Bring to a boil over high heat then lower and simmer till tender
Add liquid as needed

Preparation of the Ingredients

Step 1.Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium heat
Step 2.When hot add onions, bell pepper, celery, ham and garlic and sauté
for about 3 minutes until vegetables begin to soften
Step 3. Stir in tomatoes, herbs, spices and vinegar and cook for about 15 minutes
Step 4. Scrape the mixture into the beans
Step 5. Cook for about 10 minutes until heated
Remove Bay Leaves

Cook Rice as per usual method. I use a rice cooker

When the rice is cooked, place in a deep serving bowl. Pour heated beans over the top then serve.

Comments:
The ham is not a traditional part of Rice and Beans. It makes it more than a side dish but I think it adds another layer of taste. Leave it out if you don’t feel like hamming up your Rice and Beans.

At our elevation dried red kidney beans are a real problem when cooking in a traditional manner. When first living here, I never soaked them long enough to work and tried cooking them for days without them softening. We have had success with the beans cooking in a pressure cooker for about 8 minutes. It works well, but I am not yet totally comfortable with the pressure cooker.

A rice cooker is an appliance that makes rice an easy part of any meal. The Sanyo 5.5 cup model cooks the rice perfectly and can do other tasks that are useful. Check it out and read the reviews. Sanyo ECJ-D55S 5.5-Cup Micro-Computerized Rice Cooker/Steamer