Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage
1 lb. dried red beans
1 1/2 lbs. smoked sausage cut into chunks
1 ham hock
1 large onion chopped
salt to taste
1 clove garlic minced
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp. sage
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
freshly cooked white rice
Soak beans overnight in cold water.
Drain. Add remaining ingredients to beans except salt and rice. Bring to boil over medium high heat.
Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer until beans are tender, adding more water if necessary (about 2 1/2 hours). Add salt to taste.
Discard ham bones.
Remove about 1/4 cup of beans from mixture and mash; return to Dutch oven and stir.
Simmer 15 more minutes.
Serve over hot rice.