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Meaty with a dash of veggies

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Rice & grains Lunch / Dinner One Bowl Meals Side Dishes

Cajun dirty rice

Published: 06.27.2014 » Last updated: 01.05.2023

The "dirty" look comes from a combination of sausage fat, Cajun seasoning and chopped chicken livers. But unsanitary, Cajun dirty rice is not. It is tasty beyond words.

Cajun dirty rice

What is Cajun seasoning?

It is a spice mix. Although other ingredients are sometimes added, the mainstays are paprika, cayenne, garlic, pepper and oregano. If you buy commercial Cajun seasoning, the dominant color is red. Don’t think though that the color is an indication of the level of heat. Yes, Cajun seasoning can be spicy depending on how much cayenne goes in it. But what really gives it its distinctive color is paprika which is ground capsicum.

We like to mix our own Cajun seasoning for better control of flavor. If you decide to make Cajun dirty rice with store-bought Cajun seasoning, that is quite okay. Just make sure you choose a trusted brand.

What is andouille?

Andouille (pronounced an-doo-wee) is a smoked sausage from France which found its way to the American South. Cajun andouille is a spicy coarsely ground double-smoked pork sausage.

How are Cajun seasoning and andouille used to cook dirty rice?

Frying andouille with vegetables

The andouille provides the first layer of flavor. The sausages are cut up, browned and left to render fat. Then, the second layer of flavor comes in. The holy trinity of Cajun cooking — onion, carrot and celery in equal amounts — join the sausage in the pan with salt and pepper, and sauteed in the rendered fat.

Adding chopped chicken livers to andouille and vegetables in pan

More vegetables are added before chopped cooked chicken livers are thrown in. Cajun seasoning, the third layer of flavor, is added and everything is cooked in the rendered sausage fat (and a bit of butter in case all the rendered fat gets soaked up by the chicken liver) until the liver pieces darken with caramelization. Remember, a bit of Maillard reaction never hurts. That’s the fourth layer of flavor.

Cooked Cajun dirty rice in pan

To that merry mix of flavors and colors, rice is tossed in until it soaks up the seasonings and darkens as bits of crumbled chicken liver cling to the grains.

Cajun dirty rice

Connie Veneracion
Store-bought Cajun seasoning is okay to use. But, if you decide to make your own mix, the formula is given below. You will not use all of it though. Store the excess in a tightly covered jar and use within two weeks.
Cajun dirty rice
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

Cajun spice mix

  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne powder chili powder may be substituted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
  • 3 teaspoons sea salt or 1 ½ teaspoons refined salt

To cook the dirty rice

  • 250 grams andouille
  • â…“ cup celery roughly chopped
  • â…“ cup carrot roughly chopped
  • â…“ cup onion roughly chopped
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • â…“ cup bell peppers roughly chopped
  • â…“ cup sweet peas
  • 250 grams chicken livers cooked, seasoned and chopped
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Cajun seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons butter optional
  • 2 to 3 cups cooked white rice

Instructions
 

  • Stir together all the ingredients for Cajun seasoning. Transfer into a tightly covered jar and set aside.
  • Cut the andouille into one-inch slices.
  • Throw the sausage slices in a hot frying pan and cook over medium-high heat until cooked through and browned, and a generous amount of fat has been rendered.
  • Add the chopped celery, carrot and onion. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion bits start to turn translucent.
  • Add the chopped bell pepper and sweet peas. Cook, stirring, for a minute or two.
  • The chopped chicken livers go in next. Throw them in, sprinkle in Cajun seasoning and stir. The chopped liver will soak up the oil; if the mixture appears too dry, you have the option of adding more oil. I prefer butter.
  • Add the rice. Cook, stirring, until the rice is heated through and the coloring looks even.
  • Taste, add more salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Serve the Cajun dirty rice immediately.

Connie Veneracion

Lawyer by education. Journalist by accident. Home cook and writer by passion. Photographer by necessity. Good food, coffee and wine lover forever. Read more about me and Umami Days. Find me on Flipboard, Substack and Pinterest.

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