Dirty Rice

This is pretty close to the boxed dirty rice.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 cups

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon butter
• 1  tablespoon flour
• 1⁄2 cup onion, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup green pepper, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup celery, chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  lb ground beef
• 3⁄4 teaspoon  cajun seasoning
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 bay leaf
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dry crushed red pepper
• 1 1⁄2 cups rice
• 3 1⁄2 cups  stock
• 1⁄2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  hot sauce
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1  tablespoon parsley, chopped, garnish
• 2  tablespoons green onions, chopped, garnish

Directions

1. • Prepare a roux by melting 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium heat.
2. • Add the flour, stirring constantly until the roux turns a light caramel color.
3. • Set aside and return pot to stove.
4. • Add onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic and sauté until softened, approximately 2 minutes.
5. • Add beef and cook until meat is browned; drain if necessary and return to stove.
6. • Add roux to beef mixture and cook an additional 2 minutes; add a little water if mixture becomes too dry.
7. • Add Cajun seasoning, salt, bay leaf, thyme, black pepper and dry crushed red pepper to mixture and mix well. Let cook another minute.
8. • Mix in rice until well coated with spices.
9. • Add beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and tomato paste.
10. • Bring mixture to a boil, lower heat and simmer approximately 15-20 minutes until rice is done.
11. • Remove bay leaf, stir in green onions, parsley and serve.