Cajun Rice – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Tender rice with onion, bell pepper, and celery combined with an amazing mix of spices provides as much as bowl of Cajun rice—a easy, easy-to-make facet dish that tastes like one thing a complete lot fancier than it really is.

Whereas a primary pot of rice cooks, you’ll saute the Cajun trinity (that will be onion, bell pepper, and celery) in a little bit of butter, together with that blend of daring, smoky spices, and the subsequent factor you realize that plain rice turns into the star of the desk.

Should you’ve by no means cooked with the Cajun trinity earlier than, your tastebuds are about to be very pleased—it’s the Southern model of mirepoix, solely with a bit of extra perspective. The sweetness of the sautéed onion and bell pepper balances the earthiness of the celery, and that kinds the flavorful base of this dish.

A sprinkling every of smoked paprika, garlic, oregano, thyme, black pepper, cayenne, together with a very good pinch of salt flip this into one thing actually tasty. Don’t be afraid of the cayenne both. It doesn’t really present warmth right here, it simply provides the opposite flavors a lift.

This dish is as versatile as it’s flavorful. Serve it as a facet subsequent to grilled chicken or shrimp—or pile the rice right into a bowl and name it dinner. I extremely suggest cooking up a batch of Cajun chicken bites whereas the rice is cooking after which serving them over the rice.

One of the best half is, this recipe is tremendous forgiving and about as adaptable as may be. You’ll be able to regulate the spice to your style, double it for leftovers, or toss in no matter protein you’ve got readily available. (It’s glorious with sliced kielbasa or andouille sausage stirred into the rice, too.) It’s an amazing base to construct on, but it surely’s simply nearly as good left easy as written.

One last observe, pals. Don’t skip that end of contemporary parsley. It’d appear to be a small factor, but it surely provides simply the fitting brightness to stability out all the nice and cozy, deep flavors occurring beneath.

Rice facet dishes are a staple in my meal planning. This spicy and flavorful Mexican rice is a good facet dish for the enchiladas that we love.

Tangy, candy pineapple rice with cilantro and lime is a enjoyable facet dish that was initially impressed by this recipe for Hawaiian huli huli chicken. I needed one thing a bit totally different, and the rice labored out fantastically.

Tender jasmine rice with chunk sized broccoli florets in a tacky sauce makes this cheesy broccoli rice choosy eater permitted. It will get two thumbs up from all the youngsters every time we serve it.

Shiny yellow turmeric rice with butter and inexperienced peas is a colourful and attractive facet dish for Chicken Tikka Masala, or just about some other stir fry dinner.

And do you know that you could prepare dinner rice within the oven too? Tart lime juice and peppery cilantro infuse the lengthy, fluffy grains of rice with fabulous taste on this easy oven baked rice.

For a rice dish that will also be the principle course, contemporary mushrooms, bell peppers, and candy onions are sprinkled all through this buttery, garlicky, vegetable rice pilaf. I like this one a lot, I’ve been identified to cover the leftovers for my lunch the next day.