Cheese | Camellia Brand

Easy Crawfish & Red Bean Dip

user-submission — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 22:20:26 +0000

Ingredients:

1 (1-lb.) package Camellia Brand Red Beans , soaked overnight & drained
1 box Camellia Red Bean Flavor Infusion Seasoning Mix
4 cups water
1 pound crawfish tails
2 cups shredded mozzarella
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup diced green onions, plus extra for garnish
1/2 cup diced bell peppers (red or green)
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 small onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional, for extra spice)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon hot sauce (like Crystal or Louisiana Hot Sauce)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon butter
Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Directions:

Instant Pot Instructions: Cooking the Beans

Add soaked and drained red beans, Red Bean Flavor Infusion pack, and 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot.
Cook on HIGH pressure for 30 minutes, then natural release for 15 minutes.
Drain excess liquid, reserving ½ cup bean broth for later.

Oven Instructions: Making the Dip

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and sauté onions, bell peppers, celery, crawfish, and garlic until softened (about 5 minutes).
In a food processor or blender, combine cooked beans, softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and the reserved bean broth. Blend until smooth.
In a large bowl, mix the blended bean mixture with sautéed veggies and crawfish, cheeses, Worcestershire sauce, Creole seasoning, hot sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne (if using).
Squeeze in lemon juice.
Pour into a greased baking dish and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly.
Garnish with green onions and serve warm with tortilla chips, French bread, or crackers.

Community Servant & Chef, Jayda Atkinson, has made her mark across various platforms, including television, books, and kitchens, all while nourishing both the hearts and stomachs of those she serves, particularly in impoverished communities. Since 2007, she has been committed to providing food and essential resources worldwide through her organization, Heartful Giving. Jayda has been featured on national platforms such as Dr. Oz, Essence Magazine, and the Food Network’s Chopped, among others. A passionate advocate for addressing food insecurity and promoting wellness, she is also the author of two books: ABCs: Feeding the Body and Spirit and the inspirational The Storm Chaser. Learn more about her efforts at JaydaAtkinson.com.

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Southern Quesadillas

user-submission — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:33:50 +0000

Ingredients:

1 pound pulled pork (about 2 cups, firmly packed)
1/2 cup barbecue sauce, plus additional to serve
8 (6-inch) whole-wheat flour tortillas
1 cup cooked collard greens, drained
1 (1-pound) package cooked Camellia Brand Blackeye Peas, drained
1/4 cup dill pickle relish
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

Heat a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat.
In a small bowl, stir together pork and barbecue sauce.
Place 1 tortilla on a clean work surface. Spreading each in an even layer, add 1/2 cup pork mixture, 1/4 cup collard greens, 2 tablespoons black-eyed peas, 1 tablespoon relish, and 1/2 cup cheese. Top with another tortilla. Using a large spatula, transfer to hot pan.
Cook until golden brown and cheese is melted, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve with additional barbecue sauce, if desired.

This recipe and image are courtesy of Taste of the South magazine.

The post Southern Quesadillas first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Cajun Cowboy Crawfish Nachos

user-submission — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 04:39:03 +0000

Ingredients:

White Bean Sauce

1/4 cup Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans, rinsed and sorted
1/2 cup milk, more to thin if necessary
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (yellow, white, or smoked)
Cajun seasoning, to taste

Pickled Red Onions

1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 1/4 cups rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Nachos

Tortilla chips
1 cup white bean cheese sauce
1/2 – 1 cup sautéed crawfish (use as little or as much as you want)
1/2 cup Cajun Caviar
1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
Garnishes: pickled red onions, serrano pepper slices, cotija or queso fresco cheese (crumbled), and chopped cilantro

Directions:

For the White Bean Cheese Sauce, soak beans in cold water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse, and add beans to a medium-sized pot. Cover with 3 to 4 cups fresh water. Bring to a boil, and lower heat to a simmer. Allow beans to simmer, partially covered with a tilted lid, for 45 minutes or until soft. Stir occasionally and add water as necessary. Drain and set aside.
To a blender or large container (if using a hand blender), add beans and milk. Blend on high speed until beans and milk are totally smooth. Transfer to a small pot over medium heat.
Add shredded cheddar to pot, whisking continuously as it simmers. Add Cajun seasoning to taste, if desired. Remove from heat and use sauce immediately, or store.
For the Pickled Red Onions, add sliced onions to a container that has a tight lid; mason jars work well.
Add the next 4 ingredients to a small pot over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, making sure that the salt and sugar dissolve completely.
Remove from heat, and pour over onions. Add crushed red pepper flakes to mixture, if desired.
Allow onion mixture to cool to room temperature; cover with lid and refrigerate until ready to use. Wait 2 hours before using.
For the Nachos, preheat oven to broil. Spray a parchment-lined sheet pan with vegetable oil. Layer tortilla chips with white bean cheese sauce, sauteed crawfish, Cajun caviar, and Monterrey Jack cheese. Place in oven until cheese is melted.
Garnish with pickled red onions, serrano pepper slices, cheese, and cilantro. Top with Spicy Avocado Crema.

The post Cajun Cowboy Crawfish Nachos first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Lima Bean Ragout with Cheese Grits

user-submission — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 22:32:09 +0000

Ingredients:

Ragout

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 leek, finely sliced
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 large carrot, finely chopped
8 ounces mixed mushrooms, finely chopped
2 tablespoons white wine
4 tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon tomato purée
2 cups cooked and drained Camellia Brand Large Lima Beans
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
Pinch chili flakes
Garnish (shaved Parmesan, chopped parsley, and/or chopped thyme)

Cheese Grits

2 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon. salt
1 cup quick-cooking grits
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into slices

Directions:

To a large pan, add olive oil and leek, and sauté for 5-6 minutes or until very soft.
Add garlic and carrot, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add mushrooms and white wine, stir to combine, and cook for 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, tomato purée, cooked lima beans, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, thyme, and chili flakes. Simmer for 7-8 minutes, until tomatoes have softened. Set mixture aside and keep warm.
To make the cheese grits, bring chicken broth, milk, water, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; once boiling, gradually whisk in grits. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, or until thickened.
Stir in Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, hot sauce, pepper, and butter until melted and smooth.
Ladle grits into bowls, and top with ragout.
Garnish with shaved Parmesan, fresh parsley, and/or fresh thyme.

The post Lima Bean Ragout with Cheese Grits first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Pinto Beans and Rajas de Chiles Empanadas

user-submission — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:09:07 +0000

Ingredients:

EMPANADAS

1 cup cooked, cooled Camellia Brand Pinto Beans
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
1/4 cup rajas
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup shredded Chihuahua (quesadilla) cheese
1/4 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese
Store-bought frozen empanada dough for baking

RAJAS

8 fresh poblano chiles
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large white onion, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Juice of 1 lime

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
Place whole poblano peppers on lightly oiled baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake 20-30 minutes, or until skins are thoroughly blackened, flipping occasionally to achieve even charring and roasting. Remove peppers from oven.
Add charred poblano peppers to a plastic storage bag and seal, or to a bowl and cover. Allow poblanos to steam for about 10 minutes to loosen the skins.
When poblanos are cool enough to handle, use a towel or fork to remove and discard skins.
Cut poblanos open lengthwise, removing and discarding seeds, stem, and white membrane. Thinly slice peppers into strips.
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat until it shimmers. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted and beginning to brown at the edges, 8 to 12 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add poblano strips, salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 5 minutes.
Stir in Worcestershire and remove from heat. Drizzle lime juice over the top. Set aside to cool. Reserve 1/4 cup for use in empanadas, and refrigerate or freeze the remainder.
To assemble empanadas: Defrost dough in the refrigerator.
Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine cooked pinto beans, roasted red peppers, rajas, cilantro, and cheeses.
Spread dough out slightly using a roller. Place 1-2 tablespoons of filling in center of dough. Brush edges with egg wash, and fold dough over filling to form a half circle; seal edges by crimping or pressing with fork. Transfer to greased baking sheet and brush with egg wash if desired.
Bake until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes, when internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Serve warm empanadas with with Spicy Avocado Crema.

The post Pinto Beans and Rajas de Chiles Empanadas first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Jamaican Jerk Black Bean Nachos

user-submission — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:09:06 +0000

Ingredients:

Tortilla chips
1 cup White Bean Cheese Sauce
Jerk Black Beans
1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese
Roasted Corn Salsa
Garnishes: Pickled Red Onion, serrano pepper (sliced), cotija or queso fresco cheese (crumbled), cilantro
Spicy Avocado Crema

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
Spray a parchment-lined sheet pan with vegetable oil.
Layer tortilla chips with white bean cheese sauce, black beans, and Monterrey Jack cheese. Bake nachos until cheese is melted.
Top with roasted corn salsa.
Garnish with pickled red onions, serrano pepper slices, cotija or queso fresco crumbled cheese, and cilantro.
Finish with Spicy Avocado Crema.

The post Jamaican Jerk Black Bean Nachos first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Loaded Beef & Bean Chili Nachos

Aimee Bussells — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:45:53 +0000

Ingredients:

Tortilla chips
1 cup prepared Beef & Black Bean Chili, warmed
1-2 cups shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1-2 avocados, pitted and diced
Sour cream

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to broil.
Spread a single layer of tortilla chips on a sheet pan, and top evenly with small dollops of prepared chili and a layer of shredded cheese.
Add another layer of tortilla chips, more dollops of chili, and more cheese.
Place sheet pan under broiler and cook for a minute or two, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch carefully, so as not to burn.
Remove nachos from oven, and sprinkle with halved grape tomatoes, chopped cilantro, chopped green onions, and diced avocados. Add a few generous dollops of sour cream, so that nachos can be pulled apart and dipped into the sour cream.

The post Loaded Beef & Bean Chili Nachos first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Slow Cooker 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Aimee Bussells — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:46:17 +0000

Ingredients:

1 large red onion, chopped
4 smoked Hatch chilies, peeled, and chopped (Can substitute 2 Poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, and chopped. See note at bottom on roasting.)
2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, such as Ro-Tel
4 large cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
12 ounces Pale Ale beer (Can substitute vegetable broth.)
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup Camellia Brand Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and sorted
1 cup Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans or Camellia Brand Great Northern Beans, rinsed and sorted
1 cup Camellia Brand Black Beans, rinsed and sorted
1/4 cup olive oil (optional)
Assorted toppings: shredded cheese, diced avocado, minced red onion, sour cream, and chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

Add the onion, Hatch chilies (or Poblano chilies), diced tomatoes with chilies, garlic, smoked paprika, beer, broth, and beans to slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beans are tender but not falling apart, adding additional broth as necessary.
During the last 15 minutes of cooking, swirl in 1/4 cup olive oil, if desired.
Serve chili with assorted toppings, if desired.

Notes:

On a scale of 1-5, the spice level of this chili is a 3.

To roast Poblano chilies, preheat oven to 500°F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Arrange whole peppers in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until skins are completely wrinkled and charred, turning occasionally to promote even roasting. Remove pan from oven, transfer peppers to a bowl, and cover bowl tightly with foil or plastic wrap. Keep covered until peppers are cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Remove the skin from each pepper by rubbing lightly beneath your fingers. If you are very sensitive, you may wish to wear gloves. Remove and discard the stems and seeds. Cut peppers into quarters lengthwise and chop.

The post Slow Cooker 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Stovetop 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Aimee Bussells — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:46:15 +0000

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus 1/4 cup (optional)
1 large red onion, chopped
4 smoked Hatch chilies, peeled, and chopped (Can substitute 2 Poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, and chopped. See note at bottom on roasting.)
2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, such as Ro-Tel
4 large cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
12 ounces Pale Ale beer (Can substitute vegetable broth.)
5-6 cups vegetable broth
1 cup Camellia Brand Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and sorted
1 cup Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans or Camellia Brand Great Northern Beans, rinsed and sorted
1 cup Camellia Brand Black Beans, rinsed and sorted
1/4 cup olive oil (optional)
Assorted toppings: shredded cheese, diced avocado, minced red onion, sour cream, and chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes.
Add the Hatch chilies (or Poblano chilies), diced tomatoes with chilies, garlic, smoked paprika, beer, 5 cups broth, and beans.
Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for about 4-5 hours, until the beans are tender but not falling apart. Add additional broth as necessary.
Swirl in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, if desired, 5 minutes before serving.
Serve chili with assorted toppings, if desired.

Notes:

On a scale of 1-5, the spice level of this chili is a 3.

The post Stovetop 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Slow Cooker White Bean & Chicken Chili

Aimee Bussells — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:46:13 +0000

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination
7 large smoked Hatch chilies, peeled, diced (Can substitute 3 Poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, and diced. See note at bottom on roasting.)
1 (7-ounce) can fire-roasted, peeled, diced green chilies, undrained
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 pound Camellia Brand Great Northern Beans rinsed and sorted (or can substitute 1 pound Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans)
4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
2 tablespoons masa (corn flour) or cornmeal
Salt and white pepper to taste
Assorted toppings: Shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro
Warm corn tortillas for serving (optional)

Directions:

Add onion, chicken, Hatch chilies (or Poblano chilies), green chilies, garlic, beans, 3 1/2 cups broth, and spices to a large slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beans are tender but not falling apart. Add additional broth as necessary.
In a mixing bowl, mix the heavy cream (or milk) with the masa (or cornmeal). Use an immersion blender or whisk to combine thoroughly, and pour the mixture into the slow cooker. Stir well.
Cook for an additional 20 minutes to thicken the chili, and heat thoroughly. Adjust seasoning with salt and white pepper as desired.
Serve with toppings and warm tortillas on the side, if desired.

Notes:

On a scale of 1-5, the spice level of this chili is a 2.

To roast Poblano chilies, preheat oven to 500°F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Arrange the whole peppers in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until skins are completely wrinkled and charred, turning occasionally to promote even roasting. Remove pan from oven, transfer peppers to a bowl, and cover bowl tightly with foil or plastic wrap. Keep covered until peppers are cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Remove the skin from each pepper by rubbing lightly beneath your fingers. If you are very sensitive, you may wish to wear gloves. Remove and discard the stems and seeds. Cut peppers into quarters lengthwise and chop.

Stovetop Version of White Bean and Chicken Chili

The post Slow Cooker White Bean & Chicken Chili first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Stovetop White Bean & Chicken Chili

Aimee Bussells — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:46:11 +0000

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
7 large smoked Hatch chilies, peeled, diced (Can substitute 3 Poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, and diced. See note at bottom on roasting.)
1 (7-ounce) can fire-roasted, peeled, diced green chilies, undrained
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 pound Camellia Brand Great Northern Beans rinsed and sorted (or substitute Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans,)
7-8 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
2 tablespoons masa (corn flour) or cornmeal
Salt and white pepper to taste
Assorted toppings: Shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped fresh cilantro
Warm corn tortillas for serving (optional)

Directions:

Add oil to a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes.
Add Hatch chilies (or Poblano chilies), green chilies, garlic, beans, 7 cups broth, chicken, and spices. Stir to combine thoroughly.
Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are soft but not falling apart. Add additional broth as necessary. If desired, remove and shred chicken, and add back to pot.
In a mixing bowl, mix the heavy cream (or milk) with the masa (or cornmeal). Use an immersion blender or whisk to combine thoroughly, and pour the mixture into the chili. Stir well.
Cook 10 more minutes to thicken the chili, and heat thoroughly. Adjust seasoning with salt and white pepper as desired.
Serve with toppings and warm tortillas on the side, if desired.

Notes:

One a scale of 1-5, the spice level of this chili is a 2.

Slow Cooker Version of White Bean and Chicken Chili

The post Stovetop White Bean & Chicken Chili first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Smoked Chicken & Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

Aimee Bussells — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 14:53:50 +0000

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups cooked Camellia Brand Pinto Beans
2 cups cooked Camellia Brand Black Beans
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Creole or Cajun seasoning to taste
1 small, store-bought, smoked or regular rotisserie chicken, shredded, (skin and bones discarded or reserved for another use)
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce (spicy or mild)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
15 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese or Cheddar-Monterey Jack blend

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, and Creole or Cajun seasoning to taste. Add chicken, and stir to incorporate. Add green chiles, and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, enchilada sauce, Creole or Cajun seasoning to taste, lime juice and cilantro.
Spray a 9-x-13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Place 5 tortillas on the bottom, breaking them up and overlapping as necessary to cover the bottom of the baking dish. Spread 1/3 of the chicken-bean mixture over tortillas. Top with 1/3 of sour cream mixture, dropping it in small dollops all over, then carefully spreading it over the chicken-bean mixture with a spatula. Repeat the tortillas/chicken-bean mixture/sour cream mixture layers two more times (for 3 total layers). NOTE: For the final layer, reverse the order of the chicken-bean mixture and the sour cream mixture, so that the chicken mixture is on top.
Cover casserole with foil, and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove foil, top with shredded cheese, and bake for 10 more minutes, uncovered.

*Note: Learn how to cook beans in advance, for use in recipes.

The post Smoked Chicken & Black Bean Enchilada Casserole first appeared on Camellia Brand.

Bean & Bacon Breakfast Tacos

Aimee Bussells — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:45:00 +0000

Ingredients:

Cooked Camellia Brand Pinto Beans
Eggs
Bacon slices
Shredded cheese
Small flour or corn tortillas
Chopped avocado
Optional toppings: chopped cilantro and pico de gallo

Directions:

Cook bacon in skillet over medium heat until well-browned. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to cool. Once cool, break bacon into bits and set aside.
Heat a small amount of oil or butter in a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk eggs in a bowl, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and pour into skillet. Cook until eggs are set and put aside.
Heat tortillas, covered with a damp towel, in the microwave. Or, if you have a gas stovetop, use tongs to heat the tortillas over an open flame until charred and hot.
Place warmed tortillas side by side on a plate. Fill each tortilla with scrambled eggs, pinto beans, shredded cheese, bacon bits and chopped avocado. Top with chopped cilantro and pico de gallo, if desired. Serve immediately.

The post Bean & Bacon Breakfast Tacos first appeared on Camellia Brand.