Crescent City Red Beans & Rice (Crock-Pot)
Yield
6 servingsPrep
10 minCook
6 hrsReady
6 hrsIngredients
Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
---|---|---|---|
1 | pound |
red kidney beans
dried |
|
1 | each |
ham hock
optional |
* |
4 | cloves |
garlic
chopped |
|
1 | teaspoon |
black pepper
fresh ground |
|
1 | tablespoon |
chicken bouillon, powdered
|
|
1 | teaspoon |
garlic salt
|
|
1 | teaspoon |
chipotle paste
or powder |
* |
1 | teaspoon |
liquid smoke
optional |
* |
2 | each |
bay leaves
|
* |
1 | each |
onions
chopped |
|
1 | each |
sweet red bell peppers
chopped |
|
1 | tablespoon |
butter
|
|
1 | tablespoon |
salt
according to your taste |
|
1 | teaspoon |
cajun seasoning
|
* |
¼ | cup |
butter
|
|
1 | teaspoon |
red hot pepper sauce
chipotle flavored if possible |
|
2 | tablespoons |
cornstarch
or cornflour |
|
1 | pound |
smoked sausage
|
Ingredients
Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
---|---|---|---|
453.6 | g |
red kidney beans
dried |
|
1 | each |
ham hock
optional |
* |
4 | cloves |
garlic
chopped |
|
5 | ml |
black pepper
fresh ground |
|
15 | ml |
chicken bouillon, powdered
|
|
5 | ml |
garlic salt
|
|
5 | ml |
chipotle paste
or powder |
* |
5 | ml |
liquid smoke
optional |
* |
2 | each |
bay leaves
|
* |
1 | each |
onions
chopped |
|
1 | each |
sweet red bell peppers
chopped |
|
15 | ml |
butter
|
|
15 | ml |
salt
according to your taste |
|
5 | ml |
cajun seasoning
|
* |
59 | ml |
butter
|
|
5 | ml |
red hot pepper sauce
chipotle flavored if possible |
|
3E+1 | ml |
cornstarch
or cornflour |
|
453.6 | g |
smoked sausage
|
Directions
These directions are long because I am covering the method quite thoroughly for new-comers. (-;
SOAK BEANS: On Sunday night (or the night before you want to eat these yummy beans), check beans to be sure there are no stones then place beans in a large bowl and fill almost to the top with water. It's better to have too much water than not enough. The beans will more than double in size overnight. In the morning, I drain beans in a colander and rinse well
A FEW PERSONAL TRICKS: One of the first things I do in the morning is fill my Crockpot with hot tap water just to bring it up to temperature much faster. This saves on cooking time and electricity. I also fill and boil my electric jug (or kettle) - this is the water I will use to cook my beans
PLACE IN CROCKPOT: Beans, ham hock, black pepper, chicken stock powder, chopped garlic, garlic salt, bay leaves, and optional Chipotle powder and liquid smoke. Note: Save adding salt until the end of cook time
COVER WITH HOT WATER: Cover beans with hot water from your jug or kettle just until fully covered. Then add an extra inch of water on top of that. This will give your beans a chance to swell even more during cooking. Cover Crockpot with lid
QUICKLY: Sauté onions and bell-pepper just until they begin to cook. Add these to the beans and stir
COOK: If you are going to be gone all day, cook beans on low setting for 6 to 8 hours. If you will be around to stir, etc., I recommend cooking them on high until they are almost fully cooked (about 4 or 5 hours). Then turn them down to low for the last bit of cooking
ONCE COOKED: When beans are fully cooked, remove bay leaves (if you can find them all) add butter and stir. To thicken beans, add 2 tablespoons corn flour mixed with just enough cold water to dissolve it. Add this to beans and stir for a minute. Beans should thicken a bit in fairly short order. Repeat until you get the desired consistency
ADD: Add salt by half-teaspoon until you reach the level of your liking. It may not take much for you. Also add a bit more fresh ground pepper
NOW: Put your rice on to cook. Slice smoked sausage and cook in a medium-hot cast iron skillet until nicely brown and starting to emit those nice juices. Take skillet off heat but leave sausages where they are. Don't cover
RINSE your rice with hot water. Once drained, place about half a cup of hot fluffy rice in a wide, shallow bowl
COVER rice with a generous amount of red beans. Top with a good amount of hot smoked sausage slices
SPRINKLE with hot sauce and/or more Tony's if you want it spicy like I do
SERVE with hot buttered, grilled slices of French bread, salad or coleslaw, and a big glass of iced tea
ENJOY!