Dirty rice is a flavorful Louisiana dish made by cooking white rice with a mixture of ground meats, vegetables, and bold seasonings until the rice takes on a "dirty" color from the meat and spices.

Basic Steps to Make Dirty Rice

1. Cook the Rice: Rinse and cook long-grain white rice until tender but not mushy.
2. Cook the Meat: Brown a combination of ground beef, sausage, and often chicken livers or gizzards in a pan with oil or bacon grease.
3. Cook the Vegetables: Add diced onions, bell peppers, celery (the "holy trinity" of Cajun cooking), garlic, and jalapenos, cooking until tender.
4. Combine and Season: Add cooked rice back to the pan with the meats and vegetables. Stir in seasonings such as Cajun or Creole spices, bay leaves, thyme, cayenne, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper.
5. Simmer: Reduce heat and let everything cook together for about 15 minutes to meld the flavors and deepen the color.
6. Serve: Remove bay leaves and serve hot.

Key Ingredients

• Long-grain white rice
• Ground beef and/or pork sausage
• Chicken livers (optional)
• Onion, bell pepper, celery
• Garlic and jalapeno (optional for heat)
• Cajun or Creole seasoning
• Bay leaves, thyme, oregano, parsley
• Chicken broth or stock (sometimes used)

Tips

• Rinsing rice before cooking removes surface starch, making it fluffy.
• Using pre-cooked rice is common; the rice is added last and heated together with the meats and seasonings.
• Flour can be added to the meat to help thicken and develop a "dirty" color.
• Adjust spices to taste; cayenne adds heat while herbs contribute aroma.

Dirty rice can be served as a main dish or side, often accompanied by hot sauce and vegetables like okra or green beans. It’s a hearty, savory dish packed with rich Creole/Cajun flavors.