Dirty Rice
Comments: Do not be impressed with the title of this Cajun recipe from the discharge of the river in Lousiana; it simply refers to the dirt colour of the rice when mixed with chicken livers.
Cajun cuisine is a country cuisine as opposed to the Creole cuisine which is a refined cities cuisine.
Cajun chefs, usually poor and thrifty, used to be creative when cooking all the parts of an animal, and that is why traditional recipes like this one ask for chicken gizzards as well as livers.
Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 45 minutes
Servings: 2 or 3 [4 to 6 as side-dish]
IngredientsPreparation
  • 2 tablespoons [30 mL] melted bacon fat or corn oil
  • 2 tablespoons [17.5 g] all-purpose flour
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
  • 1/2 sweet red pepper, membranes removed and seeded, finely chopped
  • 4 tablespoons [60 mL] freshly chopped parsley
  • 1 pound [454 g] chicken livers, thawed if frozen
  • 1/2 teaspoon [2.5 mL] Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pinch Cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1/2 cup [125 mL] chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup [250 mL] long-grain rice
  • 6 green onions, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Tabasco sauce, to serve
  • Heat melted bacon fat or corn oil into a large frypan over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Lower heat to medium-low, sprinkle flour over hot fat stirring to get a smooth paste.
  • Stir for approximately 20 minutes more, until golden browjn.
  • Stir in minced garlic along with chopped onion, celery, sweet red pepper and parsley; cook stirring often for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, to soften vegetables.
  • Mix in chicken livers, Worcestershire sauce and Cayenne pepper; salt and pepper.
  • Cook stirring using a wooden spoon fot break-up the livers for 5 minutes.
  • Pour in chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil, stirring.
  • Lower heat to low and leave to simmer uncovered for approximately 15 minutes stirring from time to time.
  • Meanwhile, boil rice into a casserole filled with lightly salted boiling water until done, light.
  • Well-drain then reserve rice hot until chicken livers and vegetables are done.
  • Stir hot rice and chopped green onions into chicken liver mixture.
  • Taste and rectify seasonings if needed.
  • Serve rice immediately, along with a bottle of Tabasco sauce for each guest to sprinkle to taste.