Red Beans and Rice Didn't Miss Her............

MAKES YOU WANT SOME....I KNOW IT DOES.......

I love 80s rap so you will see it referenced in my blog every so often....

Today....I honored Sir Mix a Lot.........I made my mom's oh so yummy red beans n rice (as I jammed to Baby's Got Back). These are no ordinary red beans n rice....these are Kurdish style with Momma Saaty's secret spices and techniques....and I say this because honestly.....everything Momma Saaty makes is just amazing. I have never eaten anything that she makes that is bland or just so-so....if you make these red beans and rice....you will love Mamma Saaty as we all do! I promise!!!

Perfect Rice Recipe

2 cups basmati rice (washed 3-4 times then let it soak in water for 30-60 minutes and drain)

1/4 vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 small white onion (diced very small)

salt

(make sure to use a very good thick bottomed pot or pan to cook rice in to ensure even cooking and no burning)

Add the oil and butter to your pot on medium heat. As the butter melts, add the diced onion and cook until the onion is soft and see-through and slightly wilted. Then add your rice and stir with the onion mixture. Turn the heat up to high heat and add the chicken broth and add cold water to about 1 inch above the rice. Add salt to taste (taste the liquid in the pot...it should be just slightly salty....usually takes 2-3 teaspoons of salt). Stir rice mixture and bring to a boil. Cover pot with tight fitting lid and lower the temperature to low and simmer for 30-45 minutes without taking the lid off. After about 30-45 minutes, fluff your rice with a fork and turn heat off, cover again and let it sit for another 30-45 minutes. Basmati rice is cooked perfect when tender but not soft or mushy. It may take you a few times to perfect but once you do....you will know exactly how much of everything you need or like to add to make YOUR perfect rice.

Momma Saaty's Red Beans

1/2 white onion (diced very small)

1 can tomato paste

4 cans great northern beans (washed and drained)

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup vegetable oil

8 cups cold water

Saute your diced onions in the vegetable oil on medium heat. The onions again, should be soft and slightly wilted but not brown. Once your onions are ready, add the tomato paste and mix with the onion and oil mixture then slowly add the water while stirring constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste (again this is by taste but make sure you are tasting the mixture and it has flavor...beans.....like meat and potatoes with no salt....have no flavor!) Then add the lemon juice and bring the tomato mixture to a slight boil (all while making sure to still stir it up so there's no clumps of tomato paste) Once the mixture is at a slight boil, reduce heat to low and add the beans. Let the beans simmer for about 30-45 minutes with no lid. Taste the beans to make sure you've got the right seasoning (because your sauce will have reduced and thickened by this time). Serve the red beans over the basmati rice and enjoy!!!

I add some crushed red pepper to my beans for an extra kick or even some hot sauce on top of the beans and rice for added flavor. These can be eaten as a meal or they're perfect as a side dish to anything and everything!!!!