Description
Whip up a Delicious Southern Style Dirty Rice Recipe, packed with savory chicken livers and spices. My family’s favorite, perfect for comfort!
Ingredients
Scale
- Base & Meat:
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 1/2 lb chicken livers, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
- Aromatics & Vegetables:
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped, for garnish
- Seasonings & Broth:
- 3 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 2 tbsp Creole seasoning (like Tony Chachere’s)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
- Finishing Touches:
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage & Livers:: Okay, first things first, grab your biggest skillet or a Dutch oven, hon, and get it nice and hot over medium-high heat. Toss in that ground pork sausage and break it up with a spoon. Let it get beautifully browned and crispy; those browned bits are flavor gold! Once it’s cooked through, drain off most of that excess fat, leaving just a tablespoon or two. Then, add your chicken livers. This is where things get interesting! Sauté them until they’re cooked through and have a nice color, breaking them up as they cook. Honestly, they’ll kind of melt into the sausage mixture. This step is key for building that deep, savory base for your dirty rice.
- Sauté the Holy Trinity:: Now, scoop out the sausage and liver mixture and set it aside for a moment. Don’t clean the pan, we want all those flavorful bits left behind! Add a little more oil if you need it, then toss in your chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery – the holy trinity, darling. Sauté them until they’re soft and translucent, about 8-10 minutes. This is where the kitchen starts smelling absolutely divine, I swear! I always get a little impatient here, but resist the urge to rush it; developing these flavors slowly makes all the difference for a truly delicious dirty rice.
- Build the Flavor Base:: Once your veggies are softened, stir in that minced garlic. Oh, the smell! Cook it for just a minute until it’s fragrant – don’t let it burn, or it’ll get bitter, and nobody wants that. Then, return the sausage and liver mixture to the pan. Sprinkle in your Creole seasoning and cayenne pepper. Stir everything together really well, letting those spices toast for another minute. This step is all about melding those flavors and coating everything in that beautiful, savory goodness. It’s starting to look like dirty rice already, isn’t it?
- Add Rice and Broth:: Next up, add your long-grain white rice to the pan. Stir it around with the meat and veggie mixture for a couple of minutes until the rice grains are lightly toasted and coated in all that deliciousness. This helps prevent the rice from getting gummy, a little trick I learned the hard way! Then, pour in your chicken broth. Give it a good stir, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – that’s where the magic lives! Bring it to a gentle simmer for your Southern dirty rice.
- Simmer and Cook:: Once it’s simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet tightly with a lid, and let it cook for about 20-25 minutes. Resist the urge to peek! Seriously, don’t lift that lid; you’ll let all the steam escape, and your rice won’t cook evenly. I’ve made that mistake more times than I care to admit, resulting in crunchy rice on top. You want that steam to do its job. After 20-25 minutes, the liquid should be absorbed, and the rice should be tender. This is the crucial stage for perfect Southern Style Dirty Rice.
- Fluff and Serve:: When the cooking time is up, turn off the heat and let the Southern dirty rice sit, covered, for another 5-10 minutes. This helps the rice steam perfectly and get nice and fluffy. Then, gently fluff it with a fork. You’ll see those beautiful, separate grains, all coated in that rich, ‘dirty’ color. Stir in your fresh green onions and chopped parsley. Give it a taste and adjust any seasonings if you need to. Honestly, it’s so satisfying to see it all come together! Serve this hearty Southern Style Dirty Rice warm and enjoy every single bite.