Cajun Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage

Spicy and Delicious Southern Meal with a Kick that's Healthy Too!

Mar 29, 2010
Donna Kehl

Cajun Red Beans and Rice with Sausage - Donna Kehl

Saute onions, celery, garlic and andouille sausage until browned, then add chopped roasted red peppers, kidney beans, chicken broth, tomato sauce, chili powder & simmer.

Cajun Red Beans and Rice is a terrific meal to serve any night of the week. The cost of ingredients is less than twenty dollars, and this terrific dish that will easily serve a family of four. Cooking and prep time is about twenty to thirty minutes. Serve this hearty meal by itself or with a salad and bread.

Brief History of Cajun Red Beans and Rice

Cajun Red Beans and Rice is a great “one-pot” meal keeping in line with authentic Southern Louisiana cuisine. Red beans and rice originate back to the 1850's and were traditionally considered a “Monday’s meal,” to the Cajuns where wives used the leftover ham bones and scraps of meat to toss in with red beans and vegetables. Rice was a common ingredient in Louisiana because of the large rice plantations dating back to the 1850’s as well. Due to the lack of sustainable wheat farms, rice became a staple in many Southern Louisiana households. Many folks also generically refer to red beans and rice as a Cajun dish, but it is also widely considered a Creole dish to many natives from Louisiana.

One popular ingredient in Cajun red beans and rice is Tabasco sauce, which was introduced into Cajun cooking in the 1840’s when soldiers returning home from the Mexican-American war brought back seeds of this hot pepper. Other spices such as bay leaves were blended in to create an authentic seasoning that became a staple in Creole cooking.

Cajun Red Beans and Rice Recipe

2 links of Andouille Sausage, diced
1 large chopped onion
2-3 cloves of minced garlic
3 stalks of celery, diced
1- 14.5 oz. jar of Roasted Red Peppers, diced
2-14.5 oz. cans of Red Kidney Beans
1 c. of chicken broth (Use chicken bouillon cube dissolved in hot water for best results)
1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 tbsp. chili powered
3 c. white rice (Long Grain or Jasmine Rice works best)
2-3 tbsp. olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Tabasco Sauce to taste

Directions for Cajun Red Beans and Rice Recipe

Place rice with six cups of water in a rice cooker while preparing Cajun red bean and andouille sausage mixture (check your rice cooker manual for exact instructions).
Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat.
Sauté onion, celery, garlic, salt and pepper with hot andouille sausage until browned.
Add roasted red pepper, kidney beans and chili powder.
Finally, add tomato sauce and chicken broth and simmer for ten to fifteen minutes until thickened.
Serve hot over rice and season with Tabasco sauce to taste.

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