Paul Prudhommes Real Cajun Dirty Rice Recipes

DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken livers and sausage and cook, stirring, until the meat is browned, about 6 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, Essence, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the stock and bay leaves and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir thoroughly. Cook until the rice is heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the parsley and serve.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S REAL CAJUN DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• how to prepare Place the oil, gizzards, pork and bay leaves in a large, heavy skillet, preferably nonstick, over high heat and stir well. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is thoroughly browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the Poultry Magic®, mustard and cumin, then add the onions, celery, bell peppers and garlic. Stir thoroughly, scraping the skillet bottom well, and add the butter and stir until melted. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly and scraping the skillet bottom well, for 4 minutes. Add the rice and cook, constantly stirring and scraping the skillet bottom, for 4 minutes, when the rice should start to crackle and pop. Add the stock and stir to loosen any bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet, then cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes. Stir in the chicken livers, cover the skillet, and reduce the heat to very low. Cook for 10 minutes, remove from the heat, and leave covered until the rice is tender, about 10 minutes. (The rice is finished this way to preserve the delicate flavor of the livers by not overcooking them.) Remove the bay leaves and serve immediately.

BLACKENED FISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together paprika, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper, white pepper, thyme and salt; set aside. Heat a heavy cast iron pan on high heat until extremely hot, about 10 minutes.
• Pour 3/4 cup melted butter into a shallow dish. Dip each fillet into butter, turning once to coat both sides. Sprinkle both sides of fillets with spice mixture, and gently pat mixture onto fish.
• Place fillets into hot pan without crowding. Carefully pour about 1 teaspoon melted butter over each fillet. Cook until fish has a charred appearance, about 2 minutes. Turn fillets, spoon 1 teaspoon melted butter over each, and cook until charred. Repeat with remaining fish.

CAJUN DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• Place chicken gizzards and bay leaves in a saucepan and cover with water to one inch above gizzards. Bring to a simmer and cook with cover on at least 30 minutes while chopping and preparing ingredients. When done preparing ingredients, drain gizzards, (reserve water if you want to use for part of stock) and chop fine.
• While gizzards are cooking, chop veggies and gather spices. I personally use my food processor to speed up the process of grinding the livers and chopping the veggies.
• If you are going to sub out the chicken livers for ground beef or ground turkey, brown it while browning the pork mixture and then reserve -- drained. If you are using roasted chicken, shred it now and reserve.
• Place oil, simmered, drained & chopped gizzards & ground pork in a large heavy skillet over high heat and stir well; cook until meat is thoroughly browned, 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain all oil off and put back on burner.
• Lower heat to medium and stir in Poultry Magic, mustard and cumin. Then, add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic; stir thoroughly, scraping pan bottom well. Add butter and stir until melted. Reduce heat to medium and cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly and scraping pan bottom well. (if you are not using a heavy-bottomed skillet, mixture will stick a lot).
• Add rice and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring and scraping pan bottom constantly (the rice should crackle and pop and look similar to puffed rice cereal). Add stock and stir until any mixture sticking to pan bottom comes loose; cook about 4 minutes over high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Then stir in ground (or chopped fine) chicken livers (or your subbed ingredient), cover pan and turn heat to low; cook about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and leave covered until rice is tender, about 10 minutes. (The rice is finished this way so as not to overcook livers and to preserve their delicate flavor) Remove bay leaves and serve immediately.
• For liver haters, substitute ground beef or chicken. Still tastes good, but it's not authentic Creole.

PAUL PRUDHOMME'S CAJUN MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, bell peppers, green onions, garlic, Tabasco, Worcestershire and seasoning mix.
• Saute until mixture starts sticking excessively; about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the pan bottom well.
• Stir in the milk and catsup.
• Continue cooking for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. REMOVE BAY LEAVES.
• Place ground beef and pork in an ungreased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
• Add the eggs, cooked vegetable mixture (cooled) and the bread crumbs. Mix by hand until thoroughly combined.
• In the center of the pan, shape the mixture into a loaf that is about 1 1/2 inches high, 6 inches wide and 12 inches long.
• Bake uncovered at 350° for 25 minutes, then raise heat to 400° and continue to cook until done, about 35 minutes longer.
• Serve Immediately as is or with "Very Hot Cajun Sauce for Beef".