Gettin' dirty N'awlins style
In honor of the N'awlins Saints winning their very first Superbowl, I thought I'd make a vegan version of one of my favorite Cajun Recipes.
Dirty Rice is traditionally made with ground chicken livers and gizzards, these days, it's more often made with ground beef or with slices of spicy sausage mixed in with rice and a host of veggies. It's hot and cool all at the same time. And has a taste of the Big Easy you won't want to miss.
You can buy a variety of ready to cook verions of this dish at the grocery, but if you want to really celebrate, make it from scratch so you can make it just exactly the way you want it.
Cook this up today to celebrate the Saints' big win or use it next week when you're celebrating Mardi Gras. (And there's nothing to prevent you from making two batches.)
Don't let the name put you off. The rice is called dirty because there are colorful specks of vegetables and meat (or, in our case, meat substitute) mixed into the rice. You might have heard this dish called Cajun Rice, but that's just a marketing ploy by chefs and others who want to "clean up" this delicious dish. Whatever you call it, it's a delicious side dish (or it can be a main dish if you pair it with a salad and some crusty bread).
So, pour yourself a big sweet tea (or a Hurricane, if you're looking for a more adult celebration), pick up your fork and get dirty.
Dirty Rice
1 1/2 cups of textured vegetable protien (fake burger meat)1 tablespoon of oil
3/4 cup of bell pepper, chopped finely
1 cup of onions, chopped finely
3/4 cup of celery, chopped finely
1 tablespoon of garlic minced
A few tablespoons or more of vegetable stock (enough to keep the veggies from sticking to the pan)
1 teaspoon of Cajun seasonings
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
4 cups of cooked rice
1/2 cup of scallions, chopped
Salt, to taste
- In a large non-stick pan saute the textured vegetable protein in the oil until it turns a golden brown.
- Add peppers, onions, celery, and garlic, and saute until they are soft.
- Add the stock as needed to prevent sticking.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the Cajun seasonings and the pepper. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes.
- Add the rice and the scallions, and combine well.
- Cook just until heated (about 10 minutes).
- Add the salt and whatever additional seasonings you might want.
