In the heart of Cajun country, Lake Charles, Louisiana, lies a culinary gem that has captured the taste buds of locals and visitors alike: Dirty Rice. This iconic dish, deeply rooted in the region's rich heritage, is a symphony of flavors and textures that showcases the essence of Cajun cuisine. As you delve into the diverse culinary landscape of Lake Charles, you'll discover a treasure trove of Dirty Rice recipes, each with its unique flair and interpretation. From traditional renditions to contemporary twists, these recipes offer a glimpse into the culinary artistry that defines this vibrant city. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving for more.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
HOMEMADE DIRTY RICE
With Creole seasoning, turkey sausage, vegetables, and rice, my Cajun-style easy homemade recipe for dirty rice is a flavorful weeknight supper idea.
Provided by The SouthernPlate Staff
Categories Main Course
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, place celery, bell pepper, garlic, onion, parsley, and sausage. Break up the sausage and cook all, stirring regularly, until sausage is fully cooked and vegetables are tender.
- Add the Creole seasoning and stir. Then stir in the rice and continue cooking over medium heat until rice is heated through, stirring well the whole time.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 325 kcal, ServingSize 1 serving
DIRTY RICE
This classic Cajun dish pays homage to the Louisiana holy trinity (onions, bell peppers and celery). The finely chopped proteins give the rice its signature "dirty" look. Traditionally, dirty rice includes chicken liver -- you can omit it, but don't fear the liver! It adds another layer of texture and depth of flavor.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, ground beef and chicken livers and cook, breaking the meat into small bits with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium heatproof bowl with a slotted spoon.
- Remove and discard all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the Dutch oven. Add the onion, bell pepper and celery and cook down, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and bay leaves and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the rice, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook about 30 seconds. Stir the cooked meat back in, then add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover. Cook until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid, about 18 minutes.
- Remove from the heat. Remove and discard the bay leaves, stir in the scallions and season.
LAKE CHARLES DIRTY RICE
Provided by Donald Link
Categories Chicken Pork Poultry Side Mardi Gras Dinner Meat Sugar Conscious Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, add the pork and chicken livers and cook, stirring, until browned. Add the salt, black pepper, and chili powder and stir often, but resist the impulse to stir constantly: You want the meat to stick to the pan and get crusty. Add 1/4 cup of the chicken broth and cook until it has evaporated, allowing the meat mixture to get browned and crusty and stick to the pan once again. Add the onion, celery, garlic, jalapeño, and oregano and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are nicely browned and crusty and beginning to stick to the pan. Add the rice, the remaining 1 1/4 cups broth, the scallions, and parsley. Stir until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is heated through.
DIRTY RICE
Steps:
- In a large, heavy saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken livers and sausage and cook, stirring, until the meat is browned, about 6 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, Essence, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the stock and bay leaves and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir thoroughly. Cook until the rice is heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the parsley and serve.
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
- Recipe from New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
DIRTY RICE
The name for this dish comes from how it looks, as the rice grains are speckled with bits of ground meat and seasonings. This version uses chicken livers instead of the common combination of both gizzards and livers to offer a distinct flavor profile. Dirty rice is similar to rice dressing, but it isn't relegated to just holiday tables. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a spread in Louisiana without it. A much beloved side dish, it's also worthy of being at the center of the plate as a hearty, rustic main dish. If you have leftover rice, you can skip the first two steps and adjust the seasonings to taste.
Provided by Vallery Lomas
Categories dinner, main course, side dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Rinse the rice in a strainer under cold water until the water runs clear. Heat the stock in a medium saucepan over high until boiling. Stir in the rice and 1 ½ teaspoons Creole seasoning, then reduce heat to low to maintain a simmer. Cover the saucepan and cook until the water has evaporated and the rice no longer has any bite, 12 to 15 minutes. If the water evaporates before the rice is done (bite into a grain to see if it's fully cooked), add ¼ cup water, cover and continue cooking. Once the rice is ready, stir in the butter and set aside while preparing the rest of the dirty rice.
- Finely chop the chicken livers. Transfer to a large bowl and add the beef, pork, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine.
- Heat 3 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high until it shimmers. Add the meat and cook, stirring to break it up, until all of the meat is evenly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the meat to a plate using a slotted spoon. Discard all but 2 teaspoons fat from the skillet.
- Add the remaining teaspoon oil to the skillet and heat over medium until the oil shimmers. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the bell pepper and celery, and cook until softened, about 7 minutes more. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, remaining tablespoon hot sauce and ½ teaspoon salt. Return the meat to the skillet and add the cooked rice. Stir until combined and heated through. Taste and add more salt, Creole seasoning or hot sauce as desired. Stir in the scallion greens and parsley, and serve warm.
DIRTY, DIRTY RICE
Believe it or not, the first place I ever had dirty rice was at Popeyes®. They were out of the red beans and rice. I'd never been a huge fan of liver before, but not only have I come to love dirty rice, I've also started to crave it with even more "dirt," i.e. more liver, pork, and aromatic vegetables, hence this redundantly named dish. While the traditional method cooks the rice first before "soiling" it, here we add all the "filth" at the beginning and cook it into the rice.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Pork Shoulder Recipes
Time 1h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Heat oil in a high-sided pan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir pork until well browned and fat is rendered, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper; saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in paprika, cumin, black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables continue to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium and add andouille sausage. Cook and stir to release some flavor, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chicken livers and rice until well coated. Season with salt, pour in broth, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce. Cover tightly; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, without stirring, until most of the liquid is absorbed and rice is starting to get tender, about 25 minutes.
- Add green onions and parsley; mix well. Continue cooking over low to medium-low heat until rice is tender, about 10 minutes more. Taste for seasoning and remove bay leaf before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 355.8 calories, Carbohydrate 55.2 g, Cholesterol 151.5 mg, Fat 7.4 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 15.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 1479.9 mg, Sugar 2.5 g
Tips:
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot for even cooking.
- Make sure the ground beef is browned well for optimal flavor.
- Don't overcook the rice; it should be tender but still have a slight bite.
- Add the cooked rice to the pot with the ground beef mixture and stir to combine.
- Season the dirty rice to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Serve the dirty rice hot with your favorite sides, such as fried chicken or pork chops.
Conclusion:
Dirty rice is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its savory flavor and hearty texture, it is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a tasty and satisfying meal, give dirty rice a try. You won't be disappointed!
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