[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Interestingly enough, beans and rice provides you with all the essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are the ones your body can't manufacture for you. Pasta and marinara sauce does the same thing for you. Upshot of this is, you can live on it and not ever have to eat meat to get your protein.

This. Its a poor man's meat. In nola, its flavored with ham hocks or sausage, to add some meat flavor at a low price.