Authentic Cajun Dirty Rice

This week I’m featuring a recipe for “authentic” “Cajun Dirty Rice.” What is so special about “Cajun Dirty Rice”? When this recipe is made properly, it is absolutely delicious. Long ago, I worked in a small town outside of Baton Rouge. Upon leaving work, I would drive out of my way just to purchase a helping of “Cajun Dirty Rice” from a local fried chicken joint, “Danny’s Fried Chicken.” It was that good. This is one of those recipes which you will probably never find outside of Louisiana but it epitomizes Cajun cooking to me. It is full of the “Cajun Holy Trinity” of vegetable seasonings, fluffy long grain rice, meat, green onions and spices — yes, this dish can be quite “hot.” The mixture is slowly cooked on the stove to blend the flavors. It reminds me of a “jazzed-up” rice pilaf. This recipe does include two “secret” ingredients which make it unique. Read on.

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Spinach and Dill Rice

If you had told me that spinach and rice made a great combination; I might not have believed you. But while looking for ways to use my spring harvest of dill, I noticed a recipe combining spinach and rice along with dill and feta/Parmesan cheese. It’s from the cookbook, Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two. I’m not sure what region or type of cuisine this might be from; but it’s an interesting way to cook spinach and I’m trying to find creative ways to increase vegetables in my diet.

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Cajun Rice Dressing with Eggplant

One of my favorite summer vegetables is eggplant. I was delighted open Week One’s CSA basket and find that it included these two beautiful eggplants. Eggplant can be prepared in so many ways, it’s hard to pick a favorite recipe. Here is one that I adapted to include this vegetable: Cajun Rice Dressing with Eggplant. I made it for our family–my husband and I ate the entire dish in one meal.

Eggplant - IMG_7036_1

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