Description
Spicy Louisiana Shrimp Dirty Rice emerges as a soulful Southern classic, blending Cajun flavors with hearty comfort. Robust seasonings and plump shrimp create a memorable dish that brings Louisiana’s culinary spirit directly to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 pound (0.23 kilogram) ground sausage or ground beef
Base Ingredients:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare rice using chicken broth for enhanced depth, ensuring grains are fluffy and infused with savory undertones. Allow rice to rest while preparing remaining components.
- Heat a spacious skillet over medium temperature, rendering fat from sausage or ground beef until rich golden-brown caramelization develops. Transfer meat to a separate plate, preserving those flavorful drippings.
- Within the identical skillet, introduce diced onions, vibrant bell peppers, crisp celery, and minced garlic. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and release aromatic essences, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce succulent shrimp into the vegetable medley, cooking swiftly until shellfish transforms into delicate pink hues, roughly 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, smoky paprika, earthy thyme, fiery cayenne, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, coating ingredients thoroughly.
- Reintegrate previously browned meat into the skillet, allowing flavors to meld and intertwine seamlessly.
- Fold cooked rice into the robust mixture, ensuring uniform distribution and gentle reheating for an additional 2-3 minutes to marry all ingredients.
- Crown the dish with freshly sliced green onions, presenting a vibrant, aromatic dirty rice ready for immediate enjoyment.
Notes
- Boost rice flavor by substituting chicken broth instead of water for deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper according to personal heat tolerance.
- Use pre-cooked shrimp to reduce cooking time and simplify preparation process for busy home cooks.
- Consider gluten-free options by selecting gluten-free sausage and verifying seasoning ingredients for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 437 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg