Red Beans & Rice w/Kielbasa Sausage
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Soak: 16-24 hours
Cook: 2-1/2 to 3 hours
1 lb. dried small red beans (pkg. actually says "small red beans")
2 qts. cold water
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 c. chopped celery
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lb. smoked ham, cubed
3/4 t. salt
3/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. hot pepper sauce
1/3 c. chopped green onion tops
6 c. hot, cooked white rice
2 lb. smoked kielbasa sausage, cut into 3/4" slices
1/2 c. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 T. cold water
3 T. cooking oil
Place beans in large pot; add water. Cover and soak overnight (up to
24 hours). Drain and rinse beans 2-3 times during soaking period, until
water runs clear. Always replace water with clear, cold water.
About 3-1/2 hours before serving time, add onion, bell pepper, celery,
garlic, ham, salt, cayenne pepper, and hot pepper sauce to pot. Bring to
a boil, then reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook 2-1/2 hours or until
beans are tender. Stir in onion tops. Uncover and cook about 30 minutes
longer.
In separate pot, cook rice as directed on package.
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VARIATION #1:
In small bowl, mix orange juice concentrate, water, and olive oil. Heat
large frying pan over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes; reduce heat
to medium. Add 2-3 Tbsp. (approximately) of orange juice mixture to pan,
heating for about 20 seconds before adding kielbasa sausage (depending on
the size of your pan you may have to cook the sausage in batches). Cook
sausage until lightly browned on both sides, about 4-5 minutes. Remove
sausage and set aside.
Using a slotted spoon, mound beans in the center of a large serving platter.
Arrange rice around the edge of the platter; arrange some of the sausage
slices on top of the beans. Remainder of sausage should be served in a
separate dish at the table.
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VARIATION #2:
Omit salt and add the following ingredients for this variation:
2 cans (8 oz.) tomato sauce
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 small red onion, sliced (for garnish)
Place 2 Tbsp. cooking oil in large Dutch oven; place over medium-high heat
until hot. Add onion, green pepper, celery, and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes.
Add beans, ham, sausage, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper,
hot pepper sauce, and onion tops. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes.
Serve beans over rice with pepper sauce; garnish with fresh onion slices.
Makes: 6-8 servings
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