Mardi Gras Dirty Rice Sausage (Printable View)
Flavorful Creole dish combining savory sausage, seasoned rice, and aromatic vegetables for festive meals.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 10 oz smoked Andouille sausage, sliced
02 - 9 oz ground pork or beef
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 spring onions, sliced for garnish
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
→ Rice & Broth
09 - 1 1/4 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed
10 - 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
→ Spices & Seasoning
11 - 1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
12 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
15 - Salt and black pepper to taste
16 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sliced Andouille sausage and cook until browned, about 3-4 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
02 - Add ground pork or beef to the pan. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add remaining oil, onion, bell pepper, and celery to the pan. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
04 - Stir in garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
05 - Return sausage to the pan. Add rice and stir to coat with the flavorful fats.
06 - Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
07 - Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
09 - Garnish with sliced spring onions and chopped parsley. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of Andouille and ground meat creates layers of smoky depth that store-bought versions just cannot match
- One pot delivers an entire meal worthy of a Mardi Gras celebration without requiring any special techniques
02 -
- Never skip browning the meat properly because that caramelization creates the depth that defines authentic dirty rice
- Resist the urge to lift the lid while the rice simmers or you will disrupt the steaming process
03 -
- Chop all vegetables to the same size so they cook evenly and disappear into the rice
- Warm your broth before adding it to maintain consistent temperature for better rice texture