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Red Beans and Rice

This is comfort food that takes all day but most of it is hands-off simmering. The smoked turkey legs give it that deep flavor you can't get any other way.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Soaking Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients (~6 servings)

  • 1 lb dry kidney beans
  • 12 oz andouille sausage sliced
  • 1 lb smoked turkey legs
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 6 cloves garlic diced
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 Tbsp chicken bouillon paste
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
  • 1 tsp filé powder optional
  • Cooked white rice for serving

Instructions

  • Soak beans in water 8-12 hours, then drain.
  • Brown sliced sausage in Dutch oven over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, remove and set aside.
  • Brown turkey legs on all sides for 5 minutes per side, remove and set aside.
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, bell pepper, and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened.
  • Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, tomato paste, bouillon paste, and butter, cook 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  • Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from bottom.
  • Add bay leaves, sausage, turkey legs, and drained beans, bring to boil, cover, and reduce to low.
  • Simmer 1 to 1.5 hours until turkey meat falls off bones easily.
  • Remove turkey legs, shred meat, discard bones and skin.
  • Return shredded turkey to pot with Worcestershire, hot sauce, vinegar, liquid smoke, and filé powder.
  • Simmer uncovered 30 minutes until beans are tender and liquid thickens.
  • Remove bay leaves, mash half the beans and stir back in.
  • Serve over white rice.

Notes

Adjust salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below & let me know!