Dirty Rice

Dirty Rice with Shrimp

This recipe comes from Food & Wine
SERVES: 4

Typically, in this popular Acadian classic, it's chopped chicken livers and ground meat that make rice look "dirty." For our special version, we've left out the livers and added shrimp but kept the rest of the usual lineup--onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic.


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 pound ground pork
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
3 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and halved
2 scallions including green tops, chopped


Directions:

In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat. Add the pork and cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 2 minutes.

Reduce the heat to moderately low and add the remaining tablespoon oil to the pan. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the cayenne, paprika, oregano, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, and rice. Cook for 1 minute, stirring. Add the broth. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.

Raise the heat to moderate and stir in the shrimp. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and let stand, covered, until the rice and shrimp are just done, about 5 minutes longer.

Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the scallions.