Crock Cooker Red Beans

By Tonya_Speed

NUTRITION per serving: 359 Calories; 6g Fat; 28g Protein; 50g Carbohydrate; 20g Dietary Fiber; 18mg Cholesterol; 300mg Sodium. Exchanges: 3 Grain (Starch); 2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat. Points: 7

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried red beans, sorted, rinsed and soaked overnight
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 cup water
• 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 ham hock (or substitute smoked turkey leg, if you wish)
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your heat tolerance)

Details

Servings 6
Cooking time 480mins
Adapted from savingdinner.com

Preparation

Step 1

Soak beans overnight; drain, rinse and add to slow cooker. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add celery, onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook until softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to the slow cooker. Next, add water, chicken broth and the ham hock (or smoked turkey leg) to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours. Before serving, chop the meat off the ham (or turkey) bone, discarding all fat and bone. Return meat to the bean pot; add crushed red pepper flakes.

SERVING SUGGESTION: Serve over brown rice. Add a big spinach salad tossed with Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette (see recipe).
GLUTEN FREE: Make sure chicken broth is gluten free.