How to Cook Dirty Rice


Dirty rice is a popular Cajun preparation that is made from rice and pieces of giblets or chicken liver. This gives it a “dirty” look. Though easily available ready-made in the market, nothing will give you more satisfaction than making it yourself in the kitchen. You can even customize it a bit to your liking. That is the reason that today we will be looking at an extremely simple recipe to prepare dirty rice.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • black pepper – 2 teaspoon
  • red pepper (grounded) – 1 teaspoon
  • thyme leaves (dried) – ½ teaspoon
  • salt – 1 teaspoon
  • dry mustard – 1 teaspoon
  • dry oregano leaves – ½ teaspoon
  • ground beef – ½ lbs
  • pork sausage – ½ lbs
  • bay leaves – 2
  • onions, celery and bell pepper – ½ cup
  • ground garlic cloves – 2 teaspoon
  • melted butter – 2 tablespoon
  • chicken stock – 2 cups
  • white rice – 3/4th cup

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Take all the seasonings and mix them together in a bowl. If you want to save on some of the effort, there is readymade Cajun seasoning available in the market.
  2. Take a large frying pan and add the beef, pork, chicken stock and the bay leaves. This has to be cooked on high heat till the meat turns brown. Remember to stir occasionally to get the meat evenly brown.
  3. As soon as you feel that the meat is sufficiently cooked, you should add the seasonings. Stir occasionally to make sure that the seasoning mixes with the meat completely. Then let it boil and add the rest of the vegetables – peppers, onions, celery and garlic. In the end, add the butter.
  4. After mixing the lot above, you should reduce the heat and let it be on low for close to 6 minutes. All the while, remember to stir constantly. You have to stir right from the beginning of the recipe; when you add the chicken stock, stir for around 8 minutes. Let the flame be on high through this time.
  5. Now cover the frying pan and bring the flame to the lowest setting. Cook for another 10 minutes. Finally you can take it off the stove and keep it covered for 5-6 minutes or till you feel that the rice has become soft.
  6. One point to remember is that if you go in for a readymade Cajun seasoning, then you should pick up something that suits your and your family’s tastes. Seasoning is the key ingredient that gives the actual flavour to this dish. So, it is better if you can sample before you buy. Happy eating!

Filed Under: Food & Cooking

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About the Author: Leona Kesler is a head-chef at a very popular food restaurant in New York. Also she is a blogger who shares her experiences, tips, and other informative details about food and cooking. Her recipes are featured on many magazines.

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