It was snowing today I and wanted something for dinner that would warm us from the inside out.  I was lucky enough to get an amazing deal on smoked sausage so I thought why not red beans and rice.

But this isn’t your usual red beans and rice, this dish takes about 30 minutes to prepare, and I can guarantee that it will be even better tomorrow, for lunch.  It’s a simple combination of onions, garlic, stewed tomatoes (that’s the secret ingredient) red kidney beans and smoked sausage.  It’s then served over rice.  It can be spiced up or toned down.  It’s a no-fail, easy, quick dinner.

To Make Red Beans and Rice you’ll need:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 large clove of garlic finely chopped
1lb. smoked sausage cut on diagonal
1 15 ounce can of stewed tomatoes
1 15 ounce can red beans
Rice
To season it you’ll need:

salt
pepper
thyme
red pepper flake
or hot sauce

In a large skillet heat the oil on medium high heat.  Chop onions and add to the skillet.  Cook until translucent on medium low heat.  Be sure not to brown them.  Once the onions are cooked add the chopped garlic, cook until soft.  Season with salt and pepper and red pepper flakes.  Cut the smoked sausage on a diagonal (this will allow more surface area and the sausage will get crispy faster) and add it to the skillet. Cook the sausage until brown and heated through.  After the sausage is browned then add the stewed tomatoes and the red beans (drained) to the skillet.  Stir to combine and heat through. Season with thyme.
After tasting if you’d like it spicier add hot sauce.

Serve over rice.

Makes 4 servings