Rice Dressing

14 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 30 m Total: 45 m Beginner
5.0/5 (1)
Rice Dressing
My Mamon, Lou Guidry, made this delicious rice dressing every year with ground beef, hot breakfast sausage, and Basmati rice. I always begged to bring some home. I’ve modified it with Basmati Rice and the kids love this recipe. Feeds a small army – about 12-14 very hungry people or one very, very large Cajun!

Ingredients

14 servings
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 pound Owens hot breakfast sausage
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • Small jar chopped pimentos
  • 1/2 bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cups Basmati Rice
  • 6 cups water
  • Chopped green onions (scallions)
  • Salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Brown all the meat in a heavy pot (if you use a thin pot, your rice will burn at the bottom). Break up the meat as it cooks.
  2. Add onions and garlic to the browned meat. Cook until onions are tender and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the bell pepper, rice, water, salt, pepper and pimentos. Stir to combine.
  4. Turn heat to low. Cover and cook for 25 minutes. Do not stir or lift lid while cooking - this allows the rice to steam properly.
  5. Remove from heat and let rest 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and garnish with chopped green onions before serving.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why did my rice burn on the bottom?

A: Use a heavy-bottomed pot - thin pots distribute heat unevenly. Also make sure your heat is truly at low once you add the rice. If you smell burning, remove from heat immediately and don't scrape the bottom when serving.

Q: Can I stir the rice while it's cooking?

A: No! Lifting the lid and stirring releases the steam that cooks the rice. It also makes the rice gummy. Trust the process and leave it covered for the full 25 minutes.

Tips and Techniques

A heavy pot is essential for this recipe - cast iron or thick-bottomed stainless steel works best. The rice-to-water ratio is key, so measure carefully. For more heat, increase the cayenne or use extra-hot breakfast sausage.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Basmati rice: long-grain white rice with 4 1/2 cups water
  • Owens hot breakfast sausage: any pork breakfast sausage or andouille
  • ground beef: ground turkey, ground pork, or a mixture

Equipment Needed

  • heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
  • wooden spoon for breaking up meat

Historical Context

Rice dressing (also called dirty rice) is a staple at Louisiana holiday tables and Sunday dinners. This version comes from the Guidry family and represents the kind of generous, feed-a-crowd cooking that defines Cajun hospitality.