Mardi Gras Dirty Rice with Beef (Print)
Vibrant spicy Cajun rice with seasoned ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and bold Creole flavors perfect for any occasion.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz lean ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ Spices & Seasonings
08 - 1½ teaspoons Cajun seasoning
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
11 - ½ teaspoon oregano
12 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
13 - ½ teaspoon salt
14 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
→ Rice & Liquids
15 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
16 - 2 cups beef broth, low sodium
17 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
18 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
# How to Make:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
02 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Stir in onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until vegetables are softened.
04 - Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Mix in tomato paste, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
06 - Add rinsed rice and stir to coat the grains evenly in the spices and vegetables.
07 - Pour in beef broth, bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
08 - Fluff the rice with a fork. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
09 - Garnish with sliced spring onions and chopped parsley before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The rice grains absorb all the beefy goodness while still maintaining their perfect texture, creating little flavor bombs in every bite.
- When life gets hectic, this one-pot wonder comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all afternoon.
02 -
- The pot needs to be truly covered during rice simmering, as I learned after ruining a batch with crunchy, undercooked grains when using a warped lid.
- Letting the dish rest covered for 5 minutes off heat after cooking creates the perfect texture, something I discovered accidentally while answering the door for an unexpected visitor.
03 -
- Toast the rice in the spiced beef mixture for 1-2 minutes before adding liquid for a nuttier flavor and grains that maintain their integrity even when fully cooked.
- Keep a splash of extra broth on hand to adjust the consistency at the end of cooking, especially if your heat runs hot and the rice absorbs liquid too quickly.