Cajun Rice – Barefeet within the Kitchen

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

Whereas a primary pot of rice cooks, you’ll saute the Cajun trinity (that might 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 recognize that plain rice turns into the star of the desk.

In the event you’ve by no means cooked with the Cajun trinity earlier than, your tastebuds are about to be very joyful—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 varieties the flavorful base of this dish.

A sprinkling every of smoked paprika, garlic, oregano, thyme, black pepper, cayenne, together with an excellent pinch of salt flip this into one thing actually tasty. Don’t be afraid of the cayenne both. It doesn’t truly present warmth right here, it simply offers 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.

The very best half is, this recipe is tremendous forgiving and about as adaptable as may be. You’ll be able to modify the spice to your style, double it for leftovers, or toss in no matter protein you could have available. (It’s glorious with sliced kielbasa or andouille sausage stirred into the rice, too.) It’s a fantastic base to construct on, nevertheless it’s simply pretty much as good left easy as written.

One last observe, buddies. Don’t skip that end of contemporary parsley. It would look like a small factor, nevertheless it provides simply the suitable brightness to steadiness out all the nice and cozy, deep flavors taking place 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 completely different, and the rice labored out superbly.

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

Brilliant 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 may 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 can 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 recognized to cover the leftovers for my lunch the next day.