Recipe: Alabama Swamp Soup

Recipe courtesy Chef Big John/ Rouses

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb Smoked Conecuh sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 medium Yellow onion, diced
• 1 Green bell pepper, diced
• 2 ribs Celery, diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp Olive oil, if needed
• 1 can (14.5 oz) Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) Black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) Great Northern or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 6 cups Chicken stock
• 1 tsp Rouses Creole Seasoning, plus more to taste
• 1/2 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp Dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 Bay leaf
• 6 cups Fresh collard greens, chopped
• 1 cup Ditalini or elbow macaroni
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1-2 tsp Louisiana-style hot sauce
• As needed Salt and black pepper
• 1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• For finishing- Sliced green onions

STEPS:

1. Brown the Conecuh sausage in a heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat until nicely colored. Remove about half and reserve.

2. In the rendered sausage fat, saute the onion, bell pepper and celery for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

3. Add tomatoes, black-eyed peas, white beans, chicken stock, Creole seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, red pepper flakes, bay leaf,

Worcestershire and hot sauce. Return all sausage to the pot.

4. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

5. Add chopped collards and simmer another 15-20 minutes, until tender but still with some character.

6. Cook pasta separately until just shy of al dente. Drain and stir into the soup near the end so it does not absorb too much broth.

7. Finish with apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust Creole seasoning, salt, black pepper and hot sauce.

Serving:

Serve straight up. Ladle the soup hot into a bowl, finish with sliced green onions, and serve exactly as is - no bread, crackers, cornbread, or other sides.

Storage:

Cool leftovers promptly and refrigerate covered. The pasta will continue to absorb broth, so add a splash of chicken stock when reheating if needed.

ABOUT:

rouses.com

Locations:

• 7361 Theodore Dawes Rd., Theodore, AL 36582, (251) 653-7391
• 1545 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL 36542, (251) 948-4715
• 112 Saraland Loop, Saraland, AL 36571, (251) 675-8124
• 4350 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, AL 36608, (251) 380-0020
• 6729 Spanish Fort Rd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527, (251) 621-0552
• 7765 Airport Boulevard #609, Mobile, AL 36608, 251-272-5026
• 25405 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, AL 36561, 251-272-5034
• 3075 US Highway 98, Daphne, AL 36526