Cajun Beef and Vegetable Stew

Ingredients

• 1 recipe Cajun-Style Beef Sausage
• 2 cans (15 ounces) reduced sodium black beans, rinsed, drained
• 1 can (14 to 14.5 oz) reduced sodium beef broth
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 cups thinly sliced fresh collard greens
• Hot cooked rice
• 4 orange wedges (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare Cajun-Style Beef Sausage.  Add beans, broth, onion, garlic and flour to skillet; cook 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and mashing beans with potato masher.  Remove skillet from heat; stir in collard greens. 
   
   Cajun-Style Beef Sausage:  Combine 1 pound Ground beef (93% or leaner), 1 tablespoon liquid smoke, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.  Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot.  Add sausage mixture; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 1/2-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally.

   Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

2. Serve over rice.  Garnish with orange wedges, if desired.

   Cook's Tip: Squeeze orange wedges to add juice to stew, as desired.