Mama Mollie's Red Beans and Rice with Bacon Up® Bacon Grease
 
Makes 8 - 10 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons Bacon Up® Bacon Grease
  • 1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
  • 2 medium sweet onions, diced
  • 1 bunch green onions, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning
  • 3 (15-ounce) cans red beans drained and rinsed
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Garnish: 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan, add 2 cups of water and cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.
  2. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat Bacon Up® over medium heat. Working in batches, add sausage and cook, stirring frequently, until sausage is lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes; set aside.
  3. Add onions, green onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, oregano, thyme, cayenne, and Cajun seasoning until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  5. Stir in red beans, chicken stock, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf and reserved sausage; season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  6. Uncover and continue to simmer until reduced, an additional 15 minutes.
  7. Using a wooden spoon, mash beans until slightly thickened; if desired, season again with salt and pepper, to taste.
  8. Serve immediately over rice and garnish with parsley, if desired.
Recipe by Taste of the South at https://tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/bacon-up-red-beans-rice/