Cajun Rice Pilaf Recipes

Steps:

• Cook 1 cup wild rice blend in boiling salted water until tender, about 40 minutes; drain. Brown 3 ounces each ground pork and chopped andouille sausage in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 chopped red bell pepper, 2 chopped celery stalks and 1 tablespoon chopped thyme and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, the cooked rice and 1 bunch chopped scallions and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Season with salt.
• Per serving: Calories: 214; Total Fat: 10 grams; Saturated Fat: 2.5 grams; Protein: 9 grams; Total carbohydrates: 23 grams; Sugar: 2 grams; Fiber: 3 grams; Cholesterol: 19 milligrams;
• Sodium: 324 milligrams

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucier over medium heat.
• Stir in the onion, bell pepper and 2 pinches of salt.
• Decrease the heat to low and sweat until the onion is translucent and aromatic but not browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until you smell nuts, another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the saffron and its water, the broth, orange zest, bay leaves and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Increase the heat and bring to a boil.
• OK, now the weird part: Thoroughly wet a clean towel, kill the heat, scatter the peas on top of the rice, then place the towel across the top of the saucier. Top with the lid, then fold the towel corners up over the lid.
• Transfer the saucier (towel and all) to the oven and bake 15 minutes.
• Remove and rest at room temperature for 15 more minutes without opening the lid.
• Fish out the orange zest and bay leaves. Turn the pilaf out onto a platter, fluff with a large fork and garnish with the raisins and pistachios. Serve family-style, right in the middle of the table.

Steps:

• 1. Gather your ingredients
• 2. Add the butter, and olive oil to a large skillet, sitting over medium heat.
• 3. Chef's Note: This pan will need a tight fitting lid, and be able to hold all of the ingredients.
• 4. When the foaming subsides, add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic.
• 5. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the veggies begin to soften.
• 6. Chef's Tip: We don't want the veggies to fully cook, because in the next step, we're going to add the rice, and they'll get another 5 minutes of cooking time.
• 7. Add the rice to the pan.
• 8. Continue to sauté until the rice begins to slightly brown, about another 5 minutes.
• 9. Chef's Note: It's not really necessary that the rice browns all much... another 5 minutes is all you can spare here. Keep the rice moving in the pan, and don't let it stick to the bottom.
• 10. Add the parsley, and creole seasoning, plus the salt and black pepper (to taste).
• 11. Stir to incorporate the spices.
• 12. Chef's Note: Two of my favorite pre-packaged seasonings are: Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning, and another one called: Slap Yo Mama. But, if you're like me, here's my recipe for a good Creole spice mix, that has good heat that builds.
• 13. Andy's Creole Spice Mix: One teaspoon each: chili powder, ground oregano, dried thyme, ground white pepper, cracked peppercorns, crushed pepper flakes, and kosher salt. Two tablespoons each: sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Plus one or two bay leaves. Combine all the ingredients in a spice blender, and grind until fine. It will store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 months.
• 14. Add the chicken stock to the pan, and then reduce the heat to low.
• 15. Chef's Tip: You can use water in place of chicken stock; but I would really recommend the stock. It brings the flavor of this humble rice dish to a whole new level. In addition, because of the high sodium content of broths; if you decide to use a broth (instead of a stock), then eliminate the kosher salt from recipe.
• 16. Cover the pan, and allow the rice to simmer lightly for 20 minutes.
• 17. Chef's Note: Be careful about the heat. Since the sauté pan will be on the stovetop for 20 minutes, if the temp is too high, it will burn the rice on the bottom of the pan.
• 18. After twenty minutes, remove the lid and check the rice. The liquid should be nicely absorbed into the rice. If not, cover and give it a few more minutes.
• 19. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and serve with your favorite protein.
• 20. Chef's Note: If you want to make this a one-dish meal, try adding some sausage (your choice), maybe some cubed ham, chopped chicken (pre cooked), or whatever protein you desire... how about all of them. Enjoy
• 21. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

Steps:

• Toast 1/2 cup broken spaghetti in a saucepan with butter, 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chopped onion and cook 1 minute. Add 1 cup basmati rice and a pinch each of allspice and salt; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add 2 cups chicken broth; cover and simmer, 15 minutes. Cook 1/2 cup each sliced almonds and dates in butter, then stir into the rice. Season with salt and top with chopped parsley.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil.
• For the Creole rice pilaf: Heat the butter and oil in a 2-quart saucepan or large saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery, onions and peppers and cook until the onions are translucent, about 2 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt, add the rice and stir a few times until the rice is coated. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, tomato paste, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook for about 15 seconds. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook until the liquid is reduced and you see little holes on the top, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaf, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in half of the green onions. Cover until ready to serve.
• For the blackened chicken: Heat a 12-inch or large cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the hot paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne, white pepper, thyme and oregano in a small bowl and set aside.
• Transfer the melted butter to a large bowl. Dip the chicken in the butter and arrange on one of the prepared baking sheets. Season both sides of the chicken liberally with the blackened seasoning mixture. Working in batches, cook the chicken until the first side is blackened, 3 to 4 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken. Flip and cook for 1 minute more. Transfer to the second prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until the chicken breasts are firm to the touch and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches 165 degrees F, 5 to 10 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes. Serve over the Creole rice pilaf and garnish with the remaining green onions.

Steps:

• saute vegetables in butter over medium heat until soft.
• add all other ingredients and stir well bring to a boil reduce the heat and cover.
• turn heat to low for 25 minutes.

Steps:

• Spray base of a medium saucepan with cooking oil. Cook onion, celery and garlic, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add spices; cook, stirring, until fragrant.
• Add rice; stir to coat in mixture. Add stock; bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered tightly, about 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir in parsley.
• Meanwhile, spray medium frying pan with cooking oil. Sprinkle fish with cajun spice; cook in pan.
• Serve pilaf with fish.

Steps:

• Pour chicken broth into rice cooker.
• Crumble bouillon cube to a powder and add to broth.
• Add olive oil, garlic, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire, and pepper.
• Add bacon bits, diced onion, diced celery, and rice. Stir well.
• Turn rice cooker on ad cook until machine shuts off (or shifts to WARM mode) and rice is tender, about 20-25 minutes.
• Stir and fluff rice with fork (or paddle utensil provided with rice cooker) and serve.
• STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS: Add all ingredients, except rice, to medium saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, add rice, cover, and cook until rice is tender, appx 17 minutes. Stir and fluff rice with fork and serve.
• NOTES: You may add up to 1/3 c additional veggies, such as diced bell peppers or cooked red beans.