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EconomyBites

Posted: December 21, 2010 07:05 PM

Recession Recipe: Red Beans & Rice

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I come from Texas and in Texas we care about our neighbors. One of our favorites is Louisiana, our buddies to the east. Since Louisiana is so close to the Lone Star State, it makes sense that we tend to share things: our men go to LSU, their ladies come to Texas, it's all in the family. Primarily, what we love to share is food, and today's dish - Red Beans & Rice made Tex-Mex style with spicy chorizo, is a perfect example of that long-standing relationship

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Don't get me wrong, there's much to be send for traditional Red Beans & Rice made Louisiana-style with the proper Andoiulle sausage, and I'm aware that I'm toeing the line of sacrilege by playing with it, but like I said, I spent 20 years as a Louisiana neighbor, so I think I've earned the right to tinker. Plus, Andoiulle, for better or worse, is not readily available in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, so I opted for a tasty substitute. You are welcome to do the same.

Enjoy!

Red Beans & Rice
INGREDIENTS

-1 lb red beans, soaked overnight

-4 quarts cold water

-3 Tbsp salt

-1 green pepper, diced

-2 stalks celery, diced

-1 yellow onion, diced

-4 strips of bacon

-8 oz. chorizo, sliced

-1 clove garlic, minced

-1 tsp Thyme

-1 tsp Paprika

-1 Bay leaf

-1 cup chicken broth

-5 cups water

-1 tsp Red Wine Vinegar

-1 Tbsp olive oil

-1 cup long grain rice

-2 cups chicken broth


PROCEDURE

-Combine water and salt. Add beans and cover with a lid. Let sit overnight (at room temp, not in fridge).

-Dice pepper, celery and onion. Set aside.

-Slice chorizo and set aside.

-Mince garlic and combine with Thyme, Paprika and bay leaf. Set aside.

-Cook bacon in a large pot or dutch oven. Once bacon is cook, remove it from the pot. Keep the pot on the stove on medium heat. Add veggies and cook until soft, 6-7 minutes. Add garlic and spices and cook for another minute. Add beans, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for an hour.

-After an hour, add chorizo and Red Wine Vinegar and cook for another half hour to 45 minutes.

-Cook rice to package directions (use chicken broth instead of water).

-Combine beans and rice and serve together!!

 

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I come from Texas and in Texas we care about our neighbors. One of our favorites is Louisiana, our buddies to the east. Since Louisiana is so close to the Lone Star State, it makes sense that we tend ...
I come from Texas and in Texas we care about our neighbors. One of our favorites is Louisiana, our buddies to the east. Since Louisiana is so close to the Lone Star State, it makes sense that we tend ...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
R Davis
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
11:35 PM on 12/28/2010
Allie is surprising entertaining.
02:08 PM on 12/26/2010
I love any recipe with beans. They are great recession recipes. I love to make recipes for ground beef chili
http://www.chili-everyway.com/recipes-for-ground-beef.html

They are cheap easy and tasty.
Ana4
neutrino alert, just passing through
01:35 AM on 12/23/2010
Black beans and rice makes a great combo too!
10:07 AM on 12/23/2010
I spent three months in Nicaragua a few years ago and learned to do things with red beans and rice. Add a little chicken and you're really eatin'. Problem was, most of our neighbors got red beans and rice every day, and no chicken.
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inkongirl
12:03 PM on 12/22/2010
I miss my mom's red beans and rice. It had coconut milk in it and no sausage!
Ana4
neutrino alert, just passing through
08:53 PM on 12/23/2010
Coconut milk! That's an interesting idea, and I'll bet it's tasty too. What kind of spicing did she use?
I use coconut milk in rice pudding.
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inkongirl
12:31 PM on 12/25/2010
Thyme, garlic, black pepper and a bit of cayenne. Rice pudding with coconut milk sounds really good, I'll have to give that a try.
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IsabelRingin
You can't await your own arrival...
09:57 AM on 12/22/2010
Born in California, but both parents are from Louisiana. I was raised on red beans and rice and I carry on the tradition. Economical, good source of protein and ohh, it just tastes so good. Vegetarians, don't be scared off, there's a lot of recipes out there. You don't need the bacon or chorizo, there's other ways to do it.
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KellyRyan
A micro-bio for one who has none.
08:40 PM on 12/22/2010
One of my favorite dishes. Easy to cook vegan. I've use the recipe in the Frugal Gourmet for years and simply eliminated the ham ... Delicious!
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crom14
09:04 AM on 12/22/2010
Yum! I make this Vegetarian at least once a week. The Thyme really makes this delicious, with tons of Cayenne.
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mssreader
eat, read, sleep, read and be happy
01:58 PM on 12/22/2010
crom, have you tried this vegetarian with tou?
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mssreader
eat, read, sleep, read and be happy
01:17 AM on 12/29/2010
obviously this should have been tofu!
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Edward Standley
opinionated jerk
01:13 AM on 12/22/2010
I just love me some red beans and rice, recession or not! In college I lived on beans and rice for three months once and never got sick of 'em. There are a lot of great recipes out there and everyone will tell you that theirs is the only "real one", but try them all! Add some veggies and you've got a cheap, good meal.
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DavidMG
OWS Senior Citizen
08:30 PM on 12/21/2010
You can make this without the fatty bacon. Beans and grains are the basis of great cuisine, particularly vegetarian which is alway the least expensive, most nutritious and most interesting eating. Check out the reviews for the meatless cookbook American Wholefoods Cuisine on amazon - the book willchange your life
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Leslie Robinson Goldberg
Writer
12:24 AM on 12/22/2010
Yes, I was all excited to see "red beans and rice" after looking at the meaty fotos above. Imagine my disappointment to see sausage as an ingredient here. Too bad.
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03:20 AM on 12/22/2010
so, leave it out! Next problem......?
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camanokat
Outta this world
10:47 AM on 12/22/2010
Maybe use some smoked paprika...the beans should have *some* smoke in them.
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hulagirrrl
02:02 AM on 12/29/2010
Am boycotting Amazon but will try to find it. Thanks for the tip. Aloha