Perfect Red Beans And Rice

Total Time: 29 hrs Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 5 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 30
• 2 lbs red kidney red beans, preferably camellia brand, washed and drained
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 6 bay leaves
• 24 drops tabasco sauce or 24 drops hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons kitchen bouquet
• 20 cups water
• 2 -3 lbs ham seasoning, cut up
• cooked long-grain rice, for serving

Recipe

• 1 in a very large mixing bowl (or a 12-quart non-reactive pot, or two 6- to 8-quart pots), combine all ingredients except ham, sausage and rice. cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• 2 when ready to cook, place all in a pot with the ham and sausage.
• 3 bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and strongly simmer (preferably without skimming), for 1 hour; stir as needed to keep beans from sticking.
• 4 reduce heat and slowly simmer, covered, between 2 and 4 hours, or until mixture is very thick and beans are tender.
• 5 during the slow-simmering process, stir frequently, especially toward end of cooking time, adding more water to pot only if dish seems too dry.
• 6 about 1 hour before done, periodically mash some of the beans with a potato masher, scraping pan bottom clean after each mashing; try to mash about 40 percent of the beans.
• 7 serve immediately over rice or, preferably, let beans cool and refrigerate overnight.
• 8 reheat for serving.