Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage

 

1 pound dried red beans

 

                       1 1/2 pounds smoked sausage cut into chunks

 

                        1 cup chopped onion

 

                        1 clove garlic minced

 

                                          1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

 

                                        1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

 

                        salt to taste

 

                       freshly cooked white rice

 

Soak beans overnight in cold water. Drain and put the beans in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add fresh water to cover, along with the sausage , onion, garlic,  pepper, sage, and cayenne. Bring to boil over medium high heat.

Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer until beans are tender, adding more water if necessary to keep them from drying out. This will take 2 to 3 hours. Add salt to taste.  Remove about 1/4 cup of beans from mixture and mash;This makes the soupy juice thicken, return to Dutch oven and stir. Simmer 15 more minutes.
Serve over hot rice.
Serves 6.