Presidents’ Day & A Red Beans & Rice Recipe

Happy Presidents’ Day, Y’all! Leisure Arts is closed for the holiday, so I’m at home cooking Red Beans & Rice (made from a Leisure Arts recipe) for dinner tonight as part of our family’s own little President’s Day/Mardi Gras celebration right here in Arkansas! (Also bagged up some the dried beans, rice, and seasoning mix along with the recipe as a fun gift for one of our neighbors!)

Did you know that it’s a tradition in Louisiana to serve red beans and rice for Monday dinner? Monday (back in the day) was considered wash day, so the women would take the ham bone from Sunday dinner and put on a pot of red beans to cook while they worked.)

Here’s the recipe I’m using:

Red Beans & Rice
2 cups dried red beans
1 ham bone
Seasoning mixture (see below)
2 cups water
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound spicy smoked sausage, sliced
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Wash beans. Place beans in a Dutch oven; cover with water and soak overnight.

The following day, add ham bone and seasoning mixture to beans. If necessary, add additional water to cover beans. Cook, partially covered, over medium-low heat 3 to 4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, combine 2 cups water, rice, and 1 teaspoon salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover pan and cook 30 minutes without lifting lid. About 20 minutes before serving, add sausage to beans; salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Seasoning Mixture
1 tablespoon dried sweet pepper flakes
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf

In a small bowl, combine ingredients for seasoning mixture.

Oops…got to go check on my beans! Hope you’re having a great day! Happy Presidents’ Day! What are you doing tomorrow for Fat Tuesday? Does it involve food? Do tell!