Andouille sausage question.

[MrsJonesey]

I have never cooked with andouille sausage before. I want to make Red Beans and Rice using CI's recipe. I was surprised they don't have you brown the sausage before adding it to the beans. Is this the usual preparation? How about when using in other dishes?

[Chinon00]

Does the recipe call for fresh andouille or smoked andouille?

[MrsJonesey]

You know it doesn't specify. I used smoked.

[Davwud]

I'm no Andouille expert but to the best of my knowledge it is smoked. Much like bacon. If it's not smoked, it aint.

DT

[Chinon00]

So to be sure, the andouille you purchased was cooked?

[Davwud]

If it is indeed andouille it would be smoked and cured.

DT

[MrsJonesey]

Yes, cooked and smoked.

[Davwud]

Mrs. J

I don't have a recipe per se but just do this. I saute off my sausage, remove and season with cajun seasoning.
Add onion to the pot (and oil if enough didn't render) and saute until soft.
Add soaked beans, ham hock (the ones I get are 4 - 5lbs), sausage and chicken stock to pot and simmer until hock starts to fall apart.
Remove hock, let cool and strip its meat off. Add back in.
Be sure to stir once in a while after the hock has been removed and mash some beans against the side of the pot. It will thicken the gravy.

Season to taste if needed (ie Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, cayenne, whatever) and serve over rice.

Easy peasy, Cajunesey.

DT

[MrsJonesey]

Thanks, DT. Sounds good. I will definitely use ham hocks the next time, whenever that may be. I should have known anyway, since I always use them with pintos unless I have a hambone.

[Chinon00]

I've seen it used as is w/o browning, but browning it wouldn't hurt I'm sure.

[MrsJonesey]

Yes, the Paul Prudhomme recipe chefj linked to above doesn't call for browning the andouille or sauteing the trinity, which surprised me, but I wouldn't turn down a bowl of Mr. Prudhomme's Red Beans and Rice!

[MrsJonesey]

Well, this was disappointing. I don't know if it was the recipe, the sausage (Johnsonville) or maybe I am not a RB & R person. I followed the recipe but also browned an additional 8 oz. sausage, sliced into rounds, in a separate skillet. Added only after tasting the original. Also used some of the liquid to deglaze the skillet so I could add more flavor. I'll use ham hocks the next time. Thanks again to everyone who replied.

[pagesinthesun]

I'll be trying ham hock with my next pot of beans! Yum

The only other suggestion I have to use andouille from a butcher or Whole Foods. It could really make a difference.

I haven't read the recipe from CI (which I normally like), but maybe compare theirs to others?

[MrsJonesey]

Yes, I will look for andouille at Fresh Market to try sometime. Not much in the way of butcher shops and certainly no WF here. A comparison is definitely in order. I just thought CI was a good place to start. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Davwud]

I find a basic smoked sausage sauteed and sprinkled with some Cajun seasoning is a decent substitute.

DT

[MrsJonesey]

This may inadvertently be the most helpful to me. While I love a good smoked sausage occasionally, I have a feeling the best andouille isn't going to wow me or tempt me to make RB & R again soon. Too many other dishes to get excited about trying. Meantime, I have this large bowl of beans in my fridge.....

[alkapal]

the best andouille will beg you to split it, grill it, then serve it on a crusty french roll with shredded lettuce and a cajun remoulade.

[Davwud]

I bet that doesn't suck.

DT

[MrsJonesey]

Now that sounds good!

[chefj]

Try this here one
http://soul.food.com/recipe/chef-paul...

[MrsJonesey]

Thanks.

[grampart]

I just made RB&R recently in the slow cooker. 2 smoked ham hocks in the pot for the whole cook and added browned andouille for the last 45 minutes. Take out the hocks and separate all the meat and throw it back in the pot. Don't use canned beans! The best I've ever had!

[MrsJonesey]

Sounds wonderful! Yes, no canned beans. :-)

[Davwud]

I brown mine first and the bit of fat rendered is used for sauteeing the vegetation. Seems the CI recipe uses bacon for the same.

Incidentally, I started making RB&R using bacon. Then I tried a ham hock. Never looked back.

Simmer the hock in the beans until it falls apart (about 2.5hrs). Remove, cool and strip the meat off. Add the meat back.

Also, I'm not sure if your recipe calls for it but the trick in a lot of recipes is to smash some of the beans against the side of the pot. It releases starch that thickens the broth. If you do it right, it's nice and velvety.

DT

[MrsJonesey]

Thank you all. I am leaning towards browning them. Maybe I'll do some of both since I am not familiar with andouille. lol. Davwud, I use ham hocks for pintos. Great flavor.

[chefj]

As pine time said you can brown them if you like. Since the C.I. Recipe calls for browning Bacon first and sweating the Trinity in the fat. You can brown the Sausage before you saute the Veg. The recipe calls for cutting the Andoullie into "halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices" I would suggest cutting them much thicker 1" especially if you are browning first.

[pine time]

I choose to brown them, regardless if the recipe says so or not. I just prefer that touch of crispy browness plus the delicious fond in the pan.