Red Beans & Rice

[LADawg]

I know it’s not Monday (washday) but I’ve had a hankering for Red Beans and Rice for the past few days, so today I’m cooking me up a batch. These are in the crock pot, but they can be cooked on the stove top just as well. I’ve got some Andouille sausage to add in three or four hours.
Red Beans & Rice was a dish unheard of until the Cajun craze came along a few years ago. I was raised in North Mississippi and had never heard of the dish until I was at least 35+ years old. I lived in Memphis and went down to Jackson, MS with a couple of my buddies to a football game. We ate at a restaurant and Red Beans and Rice was on the menu. Both my friends had lived in Jackson before moving to Memphis and were happy to see it listed. They ordered it, but not me. I thought it sounded gross….. It wasn’t until several years later that I had a taste and now I just have to have a Red Beans & Rice fix every so often…..

 

[joec]

I know what you mean red beans and rice and dirty rice where two of my favorites at the local Popeye's chicken places when the first appeared on the scene. Popeye's also had the best fried onion rings and sold a baker's dozen box of wings. I always liked them better than KFC or Churches but they are gone now it appears at least in Kentucky. I've not eaten much chicken in years and kind of avoid the stuff but do like spicy, crispy wings.

 

[chilefarmer]

I grew up in South East Texas, I can't ever remember not eating beans and rice. Sometime we would of gone hungry without them or very close to it. I will be 75 this year so its not a new dish. CF

 

[QSis]

The first time I ever heard of it was in Jeff Smith's "Frugal Gourmet"'s cookbook.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/RED-BEANS-AND-RICE-1256343

I've made his recipe several times and love it. It's a hearty and filling dish.

Lee

 

[Lefty]

Red Beans and Rice was a thing in most Spanish communities for a lot longer than I have been around. Caribbean cooking is loaded with loads of red beans and rice recipes. They also had the market corner on red rice and beans. Which usually has saffron in it to give it the beautiful flavor and reddish yellow color. A cheaper alternative to make red rice is Sazon by Goya, located in the international section.

 

[LADawg]

I don't use the Sazon, but I do use the a packet of so of the Goya Ham Seasoning....