Barbecue Red Beans and Rice with Grilled Sausage

Serves: 6

 

1/2 pound Italian sausage

2-3 teaspoons olive oil

1 cup finely diced onion

2/3 cup green pepper, diced small

3/4 cup celery, diced small

2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic

1 pound small red beans

1 smoked ham hock (optional)

6 cups chicken stock or water

1 1/2 cups Dinosaur barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon thyme

3 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Salt and pepper

Tabasco sauce to taste

 

Heat oil and brown sausage, remove pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onion, pepper, and celery until soft, then add garlic and cook some more. Add beans and ham hock, stock, sauce, thyme, bay leaves, and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, approximately 2 hours until beans are soft and mix is creamy. When beans are perfect, cut sausage crosswise into

1/4-inch slices and fold into bean mixture. Remove ham hock, pull meat, and add into mix. Season with salt, pepper, and Tabasco, and serve over steamed white rice.