Red Beans Cajun Meal (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Base Ingredients
01 -
2 cups steamed white rice, prepared separately
02 -
1 pound red beans, dried and soaked overnight
→ Holy Trinity and Aromatics
03 -
2 celery stalks, chopped up finely
04 -
1 green bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
05 -
3 cloves garlic, minced fresh
06 -
1 medium yellow onion, diced
→ Meat and Liquids
07 -
4 cups of chicken stock
08 -
1 tablespoon of olive oil
09 -
8 ounces of smoked sausage, cut into thick slices
→ Seasonings
10 -
A bay leaf
11 -
1 teaspoon each of dried thyme and smoked paprika
12 -
2 teaspoons of your favorite Cajun spice mix
13 -
Salt and freshly ground pepper, as much or as little as you like
14 -
A handful of freshly chopped parsley or thinly sliced green onions for the topping
# Instructions:
01 -
Heat up your olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Toss in those sausage slices and cook until lightly browned around the edges. Set aside.
02 -
Take your onions, diced celery, and bell pepper, and toss them into the pot. Cook them for about 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until they soften and smell amazing.
03 -
Add the minced garlic and all your seasonings (Cajun spice, thyme, paprika, salt, pepper, and bay leaf). Stir well until everything’s coated, and the garlic starts releasing its aroma.
04 -
Put the beans, browned sausage, and chicken stock into the pot. Stir everything together, let it come to a boil, then lower the heat.
05 -
Cover the pot and keep it on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours. Stir every now and then, and add more liquid if it starts looking dry. You want the beans to be creamy and soft.
06 -
Spoon those tender beans over a nice fluffy bed of rice. Top with fresh parsley or green onions, and dig in!
# Notes:
01 -
Leftovers taste even better since the flavors mix and deepen overnight.
02 -
Don’t skip soaking the beans beforehand – it makes them cook evenly and turn out just right.
03 -
Throw in some leafy greens like spinach or kale near the end of cooking for a healthy boost.