4
votes
What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking?
What food and drinks have you been enjoying (or not enjoying) recently? Have you cooked or created anything interesting? Tell us about it!
What food and drinks have you been enjoying (or not enjoying) recently? Have you cooked or created anything interesting? Tell us about it!
Recently I tried cooking something in a new way and ended up preferring it.
I have a recipe for red beans and rice I kinda continuously adjust and mess with. I absolutely love Cajun food and it's the fastest way of getting some without having to rely on the store for more than some basics. Anyway, in cooking it I would usually just boil up a pot of rice and use the pot of beans to put all my spices, meats and things together, simmer all of that and just ladle it over the cooked rice. What I did instead, was to cook the rice in a skillet - a cup and a half of dry white rice, browned slightly in oil, then I poured about 3 cups of water in and let it sit on low heat to absorb. Along with it: Garlic, onions, chopped bacon, red pepper flakes.
While that was going on, I sliced up sausage and sauteed it with a little salt, paprika, and cumin. When it had a nice, crispy sear I got it all together and chopped it up. I drained a can of red beans, seasoned them with a little bit of cider vinegar and just kept em to the side. When the rice had finished, I moved it to a big bowl, and fluffed it around with a quarter stick of butter and a drizzle of sesame oil. Tossed in the chopped sausage and beans, mixed it up, and let it sit for a minute.
It was incredible. The rice was firm without feeling undercooked, and had a much more distinct flavor. The flavors of the ingredients felt more even, and more apparent. The bacon especially came through better than when I would add that to a pot of simmering beans. It was even better with some fresh green onions and a teensy bit of pepper sauce. I ended up sprinkling some oregano in, done deal. I think this is how I'm gonna do it from here out.