Cajun Red Beans and Rice

Such is the traditional menu on any given Monday in homes, cafés, and unpretentious restaurants throughout the Louisiana Delta and in New Orleans. No matter that the beans and rice can contain ham hocks, diced chicken, smoked sausage, salt pork, or a local packaged seasoning called “pickled pork” — depending on the self-appointed authority in the kitchen. So long as the beans and rice are tender and well-flavored and there’s a bowl of chopped red onions to sprinkle over the top, everybody’s happy.

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups dried kidney beans, rinsed and picked over
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 rib celery, chopped
• 1/2 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 pound garlic or smoked sausage, thinly sliced
• 1 small hot red pepper, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup diced cooked ham
• 1 red onion, finely chopped

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the kidney beans in a large, heavy pot with enough cold water to cover by 3 inches and let soak overnight. Drain the beans in a colander and dry the pot.
2. Heat the oil in the pot over moderate heat, add the onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic, and stir till the vegetables soften, about 3 minutes. Return the soaked beans to the pot and add the sausage, red pepper, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper, vinegar, and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a low simmer, cover, and cook till the beans are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 35 to 40 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the rice, chicken broth, ham, and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderate, cover, and cook till all the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
4. In a large serving bowl, combine the beans-and-rice mixture, stir well, and serve with chopped red onion sprinkled over each portion.