Dirty rice is frequently referred to as Cajun Rice in Louisiana and other parts of the South due to the dish’s history with the Acadian immigrants of Louisiana. Cajun rice typically incorporates Andouille sausage, bell pepper, celery, and onions along with a blend of traditional Cajun spices.
Steps to Make It
- Gather the ingredients. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- In a large saucepan over high heat, bring the chicken broth to a boil. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Add the chicken gizzards to the broth and reduce the heat to low; simmer for 30 minutes. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Remove the gizzards with a slotted spoon and grind or chop them very finely. Reserve the broth. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Add the bacon drippings or oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter to a Dutch oven or flameproof casserole over medium heat. Once the oil and butter mixture is hot, add the ground pork and ground or chopped gizzards. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Cook, stirring frequently until browned. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Lower the heat. Add the onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Stir and continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Add the rice and reserved broth and then quickly bring to a boil. Heat the oven to 250 F. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Stir, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet and sauté the minced chicken livers for 3 minutes. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Toss the minced chicken livers with the rice, taste for seasoning, and adjust with more salt and pepper as needed. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Cover the pan and place it in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Fluff with a fork. Serve and enjoy. The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
- Replace the ground pork with ground sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey or chicken thighs.
- Omit the gizzards and increase the ground pork or sausage to 1 pound and the chicken livers to 3/4 to 1 pound.
- Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley to the finished dish.
I couldn’t believe how good this Cajun Dirty Rice was!
FAQ
What is the real name for dirty rice?
What is Cajun Rice made of?
What’s the difference between dirty rice and jambalaya?
What is dirty rice made of?
What is the difference between Cajun rice and Dirty Rice?
Kind of, but not really. The main difference between Cajun Rice and Dirty Rice is that Dirty rice is generally cooked with organ meats such as chicken liver, chicken gizzards, hearts, giblets, or a combination of the three. The rice looks “dirty” as the organ meat breaks down.
What is the best type of brown rice?
The best brown rices are basmati, short grain, long grain, and jasmine. It is better to prefer an organic type, as it is free of any additives. Brown rice is a highly nutritious, gluten-free grain that contains an impressive amount of vitamins, minerals and beneficial compounds.
Why does Cajun rice look dirty?
The rice looks “dirty” as the organ meat breaks down. This Cajun rice has a red tomato color from the tomato paste and does not take on the color of meat since the meat is cooked separately.
What is Cajun rice?
This lemony tomato-based rice is sauteed with peppers, green onions, and bold Cajun spices whip up in minutes to create a side dish. Cajun food is made from the land along the bayous of Louisiana. This French and Southern cuisine began 250 years ago when French immigrants came to the state from Nova Scotia.