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Cajun dirty rice with shrimp in a skillet and silveware on the side
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5 from 3 votes

Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe

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 (Denise Browning).
Course:Entree
Cuisine:American
Keywords:cajun dirty rice, cajun dirty rice recipe, dirty rice, recipe for cajundirty rice
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories366 kcal
Cost $ 2.50 per person

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

DENISE BROWNING'S 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. 
EVEN FASTER TIP (by Urvashi Pitre): 
"Using a frozen, prepackaged mirepoix mix makes this a lot of faster than having to dice onions, celery, and peppers. If you can't find any frozen, dice up a double batch and freeze your own mixture for the next time you make this recipe." 

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 770mg | Potassium: 947mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 988IU | Vitamin C: 95mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 4mg

** 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.

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