Louisiana Dirty Rice

Popeye’s drive through line be too long & Pappadeaux’s is always crowded! But it don’t take much for my family to go there to celebrate just about anything.

With Mardis Gras coming up, the next time you got a craving for cajun flavor, try my Louisiana Dirty Rice recipe at home!

And it’s so easy for you to make! #LetsVibe

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry rice, cooked

• 1/2 lb ground beef

• 1/2 lb spicy ground sausage

• 1/4 cup bread crumbs

• 1.5 cups beef broth

• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Sauté

• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced

• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

• 1/2 yellow onion, diced

• 2 ribs celery, diced

• 1 stalk green onion, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Creole Seasoning

• 1/2 tablespoon sea salt

• 1/2 tablespoon black pepper

• 1 tablespoon granulated onion

• 1/2 tablespoon granulated garlic

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt

• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

• 1/2 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning

Instructions

Cook the rice according to package instructions and set aside.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and spicy ground sausage over medium heat. Break them into crumbles as they cook.

Add diced green bell pepper, red bell pepper, yellow onion, celery, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are softened.

In a small bowl, mix together sea salt, black pepper, granulated onion, granulated garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, white pepper, celery salt, chili powder, ground mustard, and dried Italian seasoning to create the Creole seasoning.

Sprinkle the Creole seasoning over the meat and vegetable mixture. Stir well to ensure even distribution of the spices.

Add bread crumbs and beef broth to act as a binder and add creaminess since we are not using ground chicken livers for this recipe. Mix to combine.

Pour in white vinegar to add acidity to the dish and bring out the brightness of all the flavors.

Add the cooked rice to the skillet, mixing it thoroughly with the seasoned meat and vegetables. Ensure that the flavors are well incorporated.

Taste the dirty rice and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more Creole seasoning or adjust salt and pepper according to your preference.

Serve the Louisiana style Dirty Rice hot, garnishing with additional parsley if desired.

Recipe Pro Tips:

• Ensure your rice is cooked perfectly. Use the appropriate water-to-rice ratio and follow the cooking instructions on the package. Overcooked or undercooked rice can affect the texture of the dirty rice. Fluff the cooked rice with a fork to separate the grains before incorporating it into the dish.

• Build layers of flavor by allowing the meats to brown well before adding the vegetables. This caramelization process enhances the richness of the dish. Additionally, make sure to sauté the vegetables until they are softened but still retain some texture. This way, each component contributes its unique flavor to the final dish.

• For a vegetarian version of dirty rice, replace the ground beef & spicy ground sausage with plant-based alternatives such as veggie crumbles, plant-based ground meat, or a mix of lentils and mushrooms for a hearty texture.