Authentic Cajun Dirty Rice Recipes

CAJUN-STYLE DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• Cook the rice: Cook the rice according to the package instructions, but use chicken broth for one third of the cooking liquid. So, for example, if the package says to use 3 cups of water for 1 1/2 cups of rice, use 2 cups of water and 1 cup of chicken broth. Once the rice has finished cooking, remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Turn the rice out onto a sheet pan and drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over it. Mix to combine and let cool.
• Mash or purée the chicken livers: While the rice is cooking, mash and finely chop the chicken livers, or purée briefly in a blender.
• Cook the bacon until crispy: In a large pan that can eventually hold the rice plus everything else, put 1 tablespoon of oil plus the bacon in and cook over medium-low heat until the bacon is crispy.
• Brown the pork and vegetables: Add the ground pork and increase the heat to high. Allow the meat to brown before stirring. As soon as the pork starts to brown, add the final tablespoon of oil and add the celery, jalapeños, and onions. Brown them all over medium-high heat. You may notice the bottom of the pan getting crusty. Keep it from burning by lowering the heat if needed. Add the minced liver and cook for a few minutes more.
• Deglaze the pan: Add the remaining cup of chicken broth and deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Add seasonings and cooked rice: Add the Cajun seasoning and turn the heat to high. Boil away most of the chicken stock and then add the cooked rice. Toss to combine.
• Turn off the heat and add the green onions: Toss once more to combine and serve hot.

LOUISIANA DIRTY RICE - CAJUN STYLE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the gizzards, chicken broth, and water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the gizzards are tender, about 45 minutes. Reserving the broth, remove the gizzards, and when they are cool enough to handle, mince them and set them aside.
• In a Dutch oven or flameproof casserole, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Reserving the fat in the pan, drain the bacon on paper towels; crumble and set aside.
• In the bacon fat, saute the gizzards over medium heat until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the green and red bell peppers, the onion, scallions, carrots, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Cook over medium heat until vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and reserved broth. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir once, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken livers and saute until firm, about 5 minutes. Let the livers cool slightly, then coarsely chop them. Toss the chicken livers and bacon with the rice. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

CAJUN DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• Bring rice, 1 3/4 cups water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender, 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool.
• Combine broth, Worcestershire, soy sauce, paprika, and oregano and set aside. Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over high. Add 1 tablespoon oil and beef; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally to break up and brown meat all over, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate.
• Return skillet to high heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil, onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Sprinkle with salt. Cook, scraping brown bits from bottom of pan and stirring often so garlic doesn't burn, until just starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add liver and cook, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally until rice is heated through and browned in places, 3 minutes. Return beef to skillet and add broth mixture. Cook until liquid is completely absorbed and rice gets browned and crisp in places, stirring and scraping every 30 seconds, about 5 minutes more. Check seasoning. Serve with sliced jalapenos and hot sauce.

CAJUN DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, sausage, and onion; drain.
• In a large pan, combine rice mix and 2 cups water. Add diced tomatoes and chilies. Stir in the kidney beans. Bring to a boil, then add meat mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Return to boil, reduce heat, and cover, stirring occasionally. Cook for 25 minutes, until rice is easily fluffed with a fork.

CAJUN DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• Place chicken gizzards and bay leaves in a saucepan and cover with water to one inch above gizzards. Bring to a simmer and cook with cover on at least 30 minutes while chopping and preparing ingredients. When done preparing ingredients, drain gizzards, (reserve water if you want to use for part of stock) and chop fine.
• While gizzards are cooking, chop veggies and gather spices. I personally use my food processor to speed up the process of grinding the livers and chopping the veggies.
• If you are going to sub out the chicken livers for ground beef or ground turkey, brown it while browning the pork mixture and then reserve -- drained. If you are using roasted chicken, shred it now and reserve.
• Place oil, simmered, drained & chopped gizzards & ground pork in a large heavy skillet over high heat and stir well; cook until meat is thoroughly browned, 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain all oil off and put back on burner.
• Lower heat to medium and stir in Poultry Magic, mustard and cumin. Then, add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic; stir thoroughly, scraping pan bottom well. Add butter and stir until melted. Reduce heat to medium and cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly and scraping pan bottom well. (if you are not using a heavy-bottomed skillet, mixture will stick a lot).
• Add rice and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring and scraping pan bottom constantly (the rice should crackle and pop and look similar to puffed rice cereal). Add stock and stir until any mixture sticking to pan bottom comes loose; cook about 4 minutes over high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Then stir in ground (or chopped fine) chicken livers (or your subbed ingredient), cover pan and turn heat to low; cook about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and leave covered until rice is tender, about 10 minutes. (The rice is finished this way so as not to overcook livers and to preserve their delicate flavor) Remove bay leaves and serve immediately.
• For liver haters, substitute ground beef or chicken. Still tastes good, but it's not authentic Creole.