Ingredients:
1 lb dried red beans, rinsed and sorted over
3 tablespoons bacon grease
1/4 cup tasso, or ham chopped, tasso is cajun seasoned pork
1 1/2 cups yellow onions, chopped
3/4 cup celery, chopped
3/4 cup green bell peppers, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1/2 lb smoked sausage, split in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 lb smoked ham hocks
3 tablespoons garlic, chopped
10 cups chicken stock or 10 cups water
4 cups cooked white rice
1/4 cup green onions, chopped for garnish
Directions:
In a large bowl or pot add the beans and cover with water by 2 inches.
Soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
In a large pot over medium-high heat melt the bacon grease . Add the tasso or ham and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes.
Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.).
Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.
Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.
Servings: 8
Time preparation: 20 min.
Time total: 170 min.