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Dirty Rice with Shrimp
© Melanie Acevedo

Dirty Rice with Shrimp

Contributed by Quick From Scratch One-Dish Meals
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  • SERVINGS: 4
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Typically, in this popular Acadian classic, it's chopped chicken livers and ground meat that make the 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,...

  1. 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  2. 1/2 pound ground pork
  3. 1 onion, chopped
  4. 2 ribs celery, diced
  5. 1 green bell pepper, diced
  6. 1 clove garlic, minced
  7. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  8. 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  9. 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  10. 1 bay leaf
  11. 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
  12. 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
  13. 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
  14. 3 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
  15. 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and halved
  16. 2 scallions including green tops, chopped
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Suggested Pairing

These assertive and varied flavors require a simple and fruity red wine, such as Beaujolais. This wine is at its best in its frisky youth; buy the most recent vintage you can find.