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Easy Dirty Rice with Shrimp – a healthy twist on a Cajun classic. The addition of shrimp turns this into a fabulous main dish. Easy to make and very flavorful!
This recipe turns a boring bowl of rice into a flavorful main dish. Just add some browned ground beef and “the trinity with the Pope” which is diced bell peppers, celery, onions and garlic. I think you will love this recipe!
The traditional Cajun “dirty” rice is a well loved Louisiana classic with as many different recipes as there are cooks. The classical version uses chopped chicken livers or gizzards which give it a distinctive dark color dubbing it “dirty” rice. I have added some ground beef and shrimp instead which makes this easy dirty rice with shrimp a great main dish for dinner or lunch.
It refrigerates well and it serves more than 4 depending on your appetite. This easy dirty rice with shrimp goes well with sriracha if you want to add some more spicy kick to it.
I am always looking for ways to use leftover rice and this recipe is perfect. You can use either leftover rice or cook rice as you prepare the rest of the dish.
How To Make Easy Dirty Rice with Shrimp
What you need
1 1/2 cup uncooked rice
1 bay leave
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp + 1/4 tsp cayenne, divided
1/8 tsp + 1/2 tsp paprika, divided
1/8 tsp + 1/2 tsp thyme, divided
1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 bell peppers (I used 1 green & 1 orange)
1 lb ground beef (or ground pork sausage)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp cumin
2 scallions, chopped
Instructions
Cook brown rice according to package directions in water along with 1 bay leaf, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cayenne, 1/8 tsp paprika and 1/8 tsp thyme.
When the rice is almost ready, heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat, and cook shrimp until done, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
Discard liquid from shrimp in the skillet, and heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers. Saute on medium heat until soft about 5 minutes. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, cumin, remaining cayenne, paprika and thyme. Add ground beef and cook for about 10 – 15 minutes until cooked through.
Add cooked rice and shrimp to the skillet, toss, cover and cook for a couple of minutes. Serve warm and sprinkle some scallions on top. Enjoy!
Easy Dirty Rice with Shrimp
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup uncooked rice
- 1 bay leave
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon + 1/2 tsp paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon + 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, I used 1 green & 1 orange
- 1 lb ground beef, or ground pork sausage
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 scallions, chopped
Instructions
- Cook brown rice according to package directions in water along with 1 bay leaf, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cayenne, 1/8 tsp paprika and 1/8 tsp thyme.
- When the rice is almost ready, heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat, and cook shrimp until done, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Discard liquid from shrimp in the skillet, and heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers. Saute on medium heat until soft about 5 minutes. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, cumin, remaining cayenne, paprika and thyme. Add ground beef and cook for about 10 – 15 minutes until cooked through.
- Add cooked rice and shrimp to the skillet, toss, cover and cook for a couple of minutes. Serve warm and sprinkle some scallions on top. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Do you drain the fat from ground beef?
The rice will probably absorb it. Personally, I would start the beef before the veg, wait for some fat to melt out, and save some oil by using the beef fat to cook the veg.
This was so easy and delicious! Next time I’ll add a little more of the spices to make the flavor a little stronger next time. Otherwise easy and delicious, definitely will make again!
I just love anything with the combo of Shrimp and this looks delicious!
I need to try this dirty rice. Love those flavors in it!
I make lots of shrimp dishes for dinner. Love this one!
This sounds and looks really delicious! Because I am Keto I will sub the cauliflower rice. Thanks for the recipe!
This meal sounds yummy. We love shrimp and rice at our house so this will be a hit. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe