RED BEANS AND RICE WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE

Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage image

Provided by Skip Davis

Time 18h

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 lb dried red beans
1-1/2 lb smoked sausage cut into chunks or slices (your favorite kind)
1 large ham hock or ham bone
1 large chopped onion
2 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, flakes or powder (more or less to taste)
salt to taste
freshly cooked white rice

Steps:

1. Soak beans overnight in cold water. Drain and put the beans in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add fresh water to cover, along with the sausage and ham, onion, garlic, thyme, pepper, sage and cayenne. Bring to boil over medium high heat.
2. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer until beans are tender, adding more water if necessary to keep them from drying out. This will take 2 to 3 hours. Add salt to taste. Discard ham bones.
3. Remove about 1/4 cup of beans from mixture and mash; return to Dutch oven and stir. Simmer 15 more minutes. Serve over hot rice.