Cajun dirty rice is a spicy and tasty main dish from Louisiana, traditionally made with white rice, ground beef, seasonings, vegetables, and chopped chicken livers (optional), from which it gets its “dirty” color. This low carb/keto dirty rice calls for the same ingredients, except it uses cauliflower rice, making it ideal for diabetics and those on a PCOS or keto diet.
Why DIRTY Rice? HINT: No, it’s not because the rice itself is dirty. (LOL) So why is it called that, hmm?
Well, the name comes from the final appearance of the dish where the rice is no longer spotless white, but is instead mixed with the brown meats (especially the chicken livers) and spices. Yep!
Tell ya what. It is the most delicious “dirt” that I’ve ever eaten!
Seriously, DIRTY RICE is a classic dish in Southern cuisine, more specifically that from South Louisiana. It is a complete yet simple dish made of rice, spices, vegetables, and browned leftover meats such as ground beef, chicken, or pork, and chopped chicken livers and gizzards.
You may even have ordered at some fast food chains by the names of Popeye’s Cajun rice and Church’s Chicken dirty rice.
But this time, you will get to learn how to cook Cajun dirty rice from scratch-- the KETO version.
The 2 main differences between authentic Cajun dirty rice and keto dirty rice are:
- The first is made with white rice, while the second is cooked with cauliflower rice.
- It takes more time to cook the white rice in the classic dirty rice (about 12-15 minutes) than to cook the cauliflower rice in the keto version (about 2-4 minutes).
That’s all! The recipe is from our friend, Urvashi Pitre! Happy Mardi Gras!
Ready?
ABOUT URVASHI PITRE AND HER NEW COOKBOOK
I first met Urvashi last year at a food conference. Needless to say, she made a big impression on me. This lady is fun and is a genius-- a combination that is rare to find in the same person.
She is the cook behind Twosleevers.com and has written 7 cookbooks so far, some of which are best-sellers.
On her blog, she shares easy global recipes, many of which are keto and made in the pressure cooker or air fryer.
As if that weren't enough, Urvashi has a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, and is the President and founder of a data-driven agency, Tasseologic.
I don’t know how she pulls it off, but the woman does it all and does it well!
This keto Cajun dirty rice is one of the 100 keto recipes from around the world in her latest cookbook, Easy Keto In 30 Minutes, available on Amazon.
There are so many delish recipes to explore in her cookbook that are simple to cook yet bold in flavor! And the best part is, you won’t feel dirt guilty later.
Table of Contents
FAQs
WHAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR DIRTY RICE?
Dirty rice is a traditional Cajun dish from South Louisiana, also known as Cajun Rice and Cajun Fried Rice. The dish gets its name not because the rice itself is actually dirty, but because of its final brown-ish appearance.
WHERE DID THE AUTHENTIC DIRTY RICE ORIGINATE?
Dirty Rice originated in South Louisiana. It is a fried rice made with white rice, spices, a blend of 3 vegetables, and browned meats. For the keto version, replace white rice with cauliflower rice.
WHAT IS CAJUN RICE MADE FROM?
The original Dirty Rice is a spicy and flavorful rice mixed with spices, the holy trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery), and browned meats such as ground beef, chicken or pork and also chicken liver and gizzards. Although the chicken livers give a deep flavor to the dish, they can be skipped. Each family has its own version of dirty rice.
WHAT GOES WITH THIS RICE?
This dirty rice with ground beef is a complete dish all by itself. But you can also serve it with sausage, shrimp, griddled pork chops, fried collard greens, and of course, Portuguese cornbread or Italian cornbread.
IS DIRTY RICE CAJUN OR CREOLE?
Dirty rice is a traditional Louisiana CAJUN dish made from the Cajun cuisine holy trinity (celery, onions, and bell peppers) mixed with bold spices, white rice, and browned meats. Dirty rice is so Cajun that it doesn’t take tomato or tomato-based sauces as ingredients, which is common in dishes of Creole cuisine but not Cajun cuisine. We are backed up by this article about the difference between Cajun and Creole cuisines.
WHAT IS CAJUN SEASONING MADE OF?
Cajun seasoning has a base of garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, oregano, and thyme. In addition, it also contains spices that give it its famous kick: chili flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and smoky paprika!
WHAT’S IN CHURCH’S CHICKEN DIRTY RICE RECIPE?
Their recipe for dirty rice contains chicken livers, which gives it a dark color and distinctive flavor, making its appearance really dirty. It also includes the "trinity with the Pope," which is diced bell pepper, celery, onion, and garlic.
CAN DIABETICS EAT CAJUN RICE?
Although people with diabetes can eat rice, they should consume it in only moderate amounts because rice contains carbohydrates which are transformed into sugar. About 1 cup of rice contains 45 g of carbs, which is more than half of the daily recommended amount of carbs for diabetics (which is around 75 g). Cauliflower rice is a better choice since it only contains 5 g per cup.
IS THIS RICE KETO?
The classic dirty rice from New Orleans is made with white rice. So it’s not low carb or keto, but you can make keto-friendly by substituting cauliflower rice for white rice.
WHAT DO YOU EAT WITH CAULIFLOWER DIRTY RICE?
While cauliflower dirty rice is a complete meal all on its own, you may serve it as a side for meats and seafood. Alternatively, you may also serve it as a main dish with a side of collard greens, steamed keto veggies (greens beans or asparagus), or with some cauliflower bread or low carb biscuits , among other keto recipes.
CAN YOU FREEZE THIS RICE?
Yes! Store dirty rice with ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Or freeze it for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat well.
INGREDIENTS FOR KETO DIRTY RICE
These are the ingredients for Urvashi’s easy Cajun dirty rice recipe:
- Olive oil
- Cauliflower rice
- Ground beef
- Cajun seasoning
- Onion
- Celery
- Bell pepper
- Chicken livers (optional)
- Hot sauce
- Salt
- Bay leaf
- Dried oregano
HOW TO MAKE CAJUN DIRTY RICE FROM SCRATCH (KETO/LOW CARB)
You can use the same ingredients for the authentic or traditional Cajun dirty rice to make low carb dirty rice, except for the rice itself. That means, simply replace white rice with cauliflower rice.
- "Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, celery, and pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 1 minute.
- Add the ground beef and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken livers, if using. When the beef is mostly browned, add ¼ cup water, Cajun spice, bay leaves, hot sauce, salt, and oregano. Cook until the water evaporates and the spices are well incorporated into the meat, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower rice and cover. Cook until the cauliflower is cooked through, for an additional 1 to 2 minutes (if using shredded cabbage, add the cabbage, cover, and remove from heat. Allow the mixture to stand for 1 to 2 minutes before serving). Remove the bay leaves and discard. ” (Page 174, Easy Keto in 30 Minutes)
NOTE: To add shrimp to this recipe, arrange about 1 pound of raw shrimp on top of the rice right after removing the bay leaves. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and let it cook for 3-4 minutes or until shrimp turns pink. Shrimp is not part of Urvashi's recipe.
QUICK AND EASY TIPS TO MEAL PREP RECIPE FOR CAJUN FRIED RICE
To prep ahead the best Cajun dirty rice, and save some time in the kitchen after a long and busy day of work, follow these tips:
- Cook ahead and freeze ground beef
- Chop veggies and freeze
- If using a fresh head of cauliflower, remove the leaves and process in a food processor until riced. Then, freeze.
- If making the Cajun spice from scratch, mix all the spices ahead and store in a small Mason jar or airtight container at room temp.
OTHER RICE RECIPES
- Ham and Cheese Baked Rice
- Black Beans and Rice
- Shrimp Coconut Fried Rice
- Nigerian Fried Rice
- Greek Rice
- Galinhada
- Chicken Pot Pie Baked Rice
- Sushi Bowl Recipe
- What is riced broccoli
PIN & ENJOY!
Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced celery
- ½ cup diced bell pepper
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped chicken livers OPTIONAL
- 1 tablespoon Cajun Spice (SEE NOTE)
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 cups cauliflower rice or shredded cabbage
Instructions
- You can use the same ingredients for the authentic or traditional Cajun dirty rice to make low carb dirty rice, except for the rice itself-- meaning, replace white rice with cauliflower rice.
- HEAT A LARGE skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, celery, and pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 1 minute.
- Add the ground beef and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken livers, if using. When the beef is mostly browned, add ¼ cup water, Cajun spice, bay leaves, hot sauce, salt, and oregano. Cook until the water evaporates and the spices are well incorporated into the meat, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower rice and cover. Cook until the cauliflower is cooked through, for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. (If using shredded cabbage, add the cabbage, cover, and remove from heat. Allow the mixture to stand for 1 to 2 minutes before serving). Remove the bay leaves and discard. ” (Page 174, Easy Keto in 30 Minutes)
Recipe Notes
- To add shrimp to this recipe, arrange about 1 pound of thawed medium raw shrimp (shelled, deveined, and tail-off) on top of the rice right after removing the bay leaves. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and let it cook for 3-4 minutes or until shrimp turns pink. Shrimp is not part of Urvashi's recipe.
- For a not-so-dirty variation of this dirty rice, omit the chicken livers. I did!
- You can use either a store-bought Cajun spice mix or make your own. I used a store-bought one for this recipe!
- I added shrimp to mine! You can omit it if desired.
- Store this cajun dirty rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 2-3 months (Denise Browning).
- Ingredients and Instructions from the 'EASY KETO IN 30 MINUTES' Coobook by Urvashi Pitre (p. 174). Recipe summary by Denise Browning.
- NUTRITION is not from the 'Easy Keto in 30 Minutes' cookbook, but was calculated by our recipe box plugin.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
Cajun Dirty Rice FAQs
What are other names for dirty rice?
Dirty rice is a traditional Cajun dish from South Louisiana, also known as Cajun Rice and Cajun Fried Rice. The dish gets its name not because the rice itself is actually dirty, but because of its final brown-ish appearance.
What goes well with dirty rice with ground beef?
Dirty rice is a complete dish all by itself. But you can also serve it with sausage, shrimp, grilled pork chops, fried collard greens, and of course, Portuguese cornbread or Italian cornbread.
What is Cajun seasoning made with?
Cajun seasoning has a base of garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, oregano, and thyme. In addition, it also contains spices that give it its famous kick: chili flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and smoky paprika!
What is Cajun Rice made of?
The traditional, authentic Dirty Rice recipe is a flavorful, seasoned rice mixed with spices, the holy trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery), browned meats such as ground beef, chicken, or pork, and also chicken livers and gizzards. Although the chicken livers give a deep flavor to the dish, they can be omitted if desired.
Can you freeze cauliflower dirty rice?
Yes! Store dirty rice with ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Or freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat well.
What do you eat with cauliflower dirty rice?
While cauliflower dirty rice is a complete meal on its own, you may serve it as a side for meats and seafood. Alternatively, you may also serve as a main dish with a side of collard greens, steamed keto veggies (green beans or asparagus), or with some cauliflower bread or low carb biscuits.
Can diabetics eat Cajun rice?
Although people with diabetes can eat rice, they should consume only a moderate amount because rice contains carbohydrates which are transformed into sugar. About 1 cup of rice contains 45 g of carbs, which is more than half of the amount of daily carbs recommended for diabetics (which is around 75 g). Cauliflower rice is a better choice because it only contains 5 g per cup.
Is dirty rice keto?
The classic Dirty Rice from New Orleans is made with white rice. So it’s not low carb or keto, but you can make keto-friendly by substituting cauliflower rice for white rice.
What’s in Church’s Chicken's Dirty Rice recipe?
Their recipe for Dirty Rice contains chicken livers, which gives it a dark color and distinctive flavor, making its appearance really dirty. It also includes the "Cajun Holy Trinity with the Pope," which is diced bell pepper, celery, onion, and garlic.
Is Dirty Rice Cajun or Creole?
Dirty rice is a traditional Louisiana Cajun dish made of the Cajun cuisine Holy Trinity (celery, onions, and bell peppers) mixed with bold spices, white rice, and browned meats. Dirty rice is so Cajun that it doesn’t use tomato or tomato-based sauces as an ingredient, which is common in dishes of Creole cuisine but not Cajun cuisine.
Kushi Mallya says
This simple and delicious rice recipe to try. Thanks for sharing.
Denise Browning says
Hi, Kushi! I am so happy your enjoyed our simple Cajun dirty rice. It is a favorite of mine too because it has cauliflower rice and I have to be on a low-carb diet.
Haitian Cuisine says
That is an amazing recipe. I liked it a lot. My husband loves cajun food.
Never Ending Journeys says
This cajun rice looks so flavorful!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
My mother used to make dirty rice. I haven't had it in years and your version sounds great.
Josiah - DIY Thrill says
Yumm, this dirty rice looks so good!
Alexa says
I love dirty rice, and this low-carb option sounds simply incredible! So excited for it - thanks for sharing 🙂
Jeff the Chef says
I love rice dishes, as well as anything Cajun. Thanks for the recipe, and for the info about the cookbook.
Denise Browning says
Hi, Jeff! The pleasure was mine. Urvashi's cookbook is great and the Cajun dirty rice was truly delicious.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Mmm, love Cajun and Creole dishes. Good idea to substitute cauliflower rice in this dish -- extra flavor, and much, much healthier. Thanks!
Gemma says
This sounds divine! I'm having to go on a Keto diet for my allergies, and I'm looking for delicious recipes and this couldn't be more perfect. It sounds so flavoursome x
Heidi says
I love Louisiana cuisine and your dirty rice recipe looks delicious. So many yummy flavors packed into one amazing dish, yum!
Denise Browning says
Thank you Heidi! The recipe is from Urvashi new cookbook. I made the keto dirty rice for the first time and love it!