Description
This Cajun Rice recipe is a vibrant, flavorful side dish featuring sautéed bell peppers and onions simmered with aromatic Cajun spices and long-grain white rice. Perfectly tender and infused with a blend of paprika, thyme, and garlic, it adds a spicy Southern touch to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ½ red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- ½ green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 3 ¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the diced red and green bell peppers along with the diced yellow onion, and sauté until the vegetables soften and become fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Broth and Spices: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Stir in the kosher salt, garlic powder, ground thyme, ground paprika, black pepper, and add the bay leaf. Increase heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Add Rice and Simmer: Stir in the long-grain white rice thoroughly. Cover the saucepan with a lid, reduce heat to low, and let it simmer gently.
- Cook the Rice: Maintain a low simmer and cook covered for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid completely.
- Rest and Fluff: Remove the saucepan from heat, keep it covered, and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Then, discard the bay leaf and fluff the rice gently with a fork before serving.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control the salt levels in the dish.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and use olive oil instead of butter.
- Allowing the rice to rest after cooking helps achieve a fluffier texture.
- Adjust the paprika and black pepper quantities to increase or decrease spiciness to your preference.
- Ensure the lid fits well to prevent steam from escaping during simmering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
