Authentic New Orleans Red Beans And Rice

• 1 tablespoon shortening, or as needed
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 8 cups water
• 1 pound dried red beans
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's(R))
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco(R)), or to taste (optional)
• 3 cups cooked white rice

1. Melt shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, garlic, and bell pepper in hot shortening until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Combine water, red beans, and ham hock in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir onion mixture into the water; add smoked sausage and celery to the boiling water; return to a boil. Stir bay leaves, Creole seasoning, thyme, and sage into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 5 hours.
3. Remove and discard ham hock and bay leaves; stir in hot pepper sauce and serve over white rice.

shortening, white onion, garlic, green bell pepper, water, red beans, hock, sausage, stalks celery, bay leaves, creole seasoning, thyme, sage, pepper, white rice

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/229602/authentic-new-orleans-red-beans-and-rice/ (may not work)