Cajun Rice – Barefeet within the Kitchen

Tender rice with onion, bell pepper, and celery blended 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 may be onion, bell pepper, and celery) in a little bit of butter, together with that blend of daring, smoky spices, and the subsequent factor that plain rice turns into the star of the desk.

For those who’ve by no means cooked with the Cajun trinity earlier than, your tastebuds are about to be very glad—it’s the Southern model of mirepoix, solely with a little bit 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 a great 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 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 advocate 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 possibly can regulate the spice to your style, double it for leftovers, or toss in no matter protein you may have readily available. (It’s glorious with sliced kielbasa or andouille sausage stirred into the rice, too.) It’s an amazing base to construct on, however it’s simply nearly as good left easy as written.

One ultimate observe, pals. Don’t skip that end of recent parsley. It would seem to be a small factor, however it provides simply the proper brightness to stability 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 superb 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 chew sized broccoli florets in a tacky sauce makes this cheesy broccoli rice choosy eater accredited. It will get two thumbs up from all the youngsters each 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 another stir fry dinner.

And do you know you could cook 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, recent 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.