Authentic New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 310 min
Servings: 10
Yield: 10 servings

Description

This New Orleans red beans and rice recipe uses dried red beans with smoked sausage and Creole seasoning to make a Southern comfort food favorite.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon shortening, or as needed
1 white onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
8 cups water
1 pound dried red beans
1 smoked ham hock
1 pound smoked sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's®)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco®), or to taste
3 cups cooked white rice

Directions

1 Gather the ingredients.
2 Melt shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, bell pepper, and garlic in hot shortening until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
3 Combine water, red beans, and ham hock in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir onion mixture into the pot; add smoked sausage and celery. Return to a boil. Stir bay leaves, Creole seasoning, thyme, and sage into boiling water. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer until beans are tender, about 5 hours.
4 Remove and discard ham hock and bay leaves; stir in hot pepper sauce and serve over white rice.