We call this a Vegetarian Dirty Rice Recipe but it’s actually the epitome of clean eating. Quick boil rice with finely diced veggies and cajun spices make for the perfect side to your favorite southern dishes.
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Dirty Rice Recipe
Say hello to the tastiest vegan version of Dirty Rice. Traditional Dirty Rice ingredients include some sort of meat - whether that be chicken livers, chicken gizzards, ground beef, or small pieces of pork. This recipe, however, is a twist on the southern classic replacing the meat with extra diced veggies, but keeping the same cajun spices.
And all of those spices are what make this flavorful rice dish, ‘dirty’. It’s called dirty as a result of seasoning tinting the white rice a brown-ish color. You’ll also hear it called Cajun Rice or Rice Dressing which are all more or less variations of the same recipe, popular in the American South.
This Meatless Dirty Rice makes for the perfect base to your meat-free meal. Add some refried beans, sautéed collard greens or green beans, and some southern Comeback sauce to get a tasty plate to the dinner table in minimal time on a busy weeknight.
And if you’re looking for more rice recipes, also check out this Cilantro Lime Basmati Rice Recipe, this Mushroom Rice Pilaf, or this Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl that I know you’ll love too.
Recipe Ingredients
- Rice - The type of rice is up to you. I used regular white rice (Success Rice Boil-in-Bag), but brown rice, jasmine rice, or even leftover rice are perfect for this recipe.
- Veggies - Celery, bell peppers (I used red, but orange, or green bell pepper work, too!), white onion (yellow onion or red onions are also fine), and carrots.
- Spices - For my cajun seasoning, I used a combination of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. You could also use a store bought mixture of traditional cajun seasoning like this one. You could also use minced garlic in place of the powdered for more pungent flavor.
- Sauce - I included both sriracha and this Sweet Chili Sauce for extra moisture and flavor.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- Not a vegetarian? Feel free to add ground beef, sausage or another meat (either ground or finely chopped). You could try a vegan sausage or other plant based meat here, too! Stirring in a tablespoon or two of bacon grease also elevates the flavor.
- Bean lover? Most dirty rice recipes contain beans. I think kidney beans, black beans or white beans would be a great addition to this recipe.
- Not a fan of sweet chili sauce? Try a homemade chimichurri sauce or another savory favorite like a tahini miso sauce or rich au jus!
How to Make This Recipe
1. Start by cooking the rice according to bag/box instructions (I used Boil-in-Bag).
2. While the rice is cooking, finely dice carrots, red pepper, onion, and celery (I love using a vegetable chopper!).
3. Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil and once fragrant, squeeze the garlic paste into the pan. Stir to avoid burning.
4. Add in the diced carrots and onions. Stir and let cook for 3-4 minutes. Then toss in the diced red pepper and celery. Combine the hot sauce and seasoning into the mixture. Sauté for 5-8 minutes or until carrots are softened and onions/peppers are translucent.
5. Fold in cooked rice and stir in sweet chili sauce. Remove from the heat after everything is evenly incorporated.
6. Garnish with diced green onions, a squeeze of lime juice and serve hot. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- If you’re cooking your rice in liquid (i.e. not Boil-in-Bag), use vegetable broth instead of water to take the flavors up a notch.
- I love using a vegetable chopper to dice my veggies for this recipe. Small, evenly sized pieces that are easily incoroprated into the rice make it so you get maximum flavor in every bite!
- Use the viral TikTok hack of adding an ice cube on top before reheating your rice to ensure the dish stays moist.
Recipe FAQs
Store your dirty rice in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until warmed throughout.
Cajun Rice and Dirty Rice are essentially just two different names for the same dish. The recipe is a classic cajun dish with creole spices contributing to its “dirty” appearance.
Dirty rice is super unique and flavorful, but can go alongside a variety of other dishes. Some ways to enjoy are with red beans or refried beans, with fried fish or chicken, with sausage, in a burrito, or on its own topped with fresh herbs and green onion. Or keep with the southern theme and serve with some deep fried hush puppies or rich cornbread.
More Recipes You'll Love
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Recipe
Vegetarian Dirty Rice Recipe
Equipment
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Sauce pot
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skillet
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Rubber Spatula
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vegetable chopper or knife and cutting board
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measuring cups / spoons
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp garlic paste
- 2 bags Success Boil-in-Bag Rice, ~ 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 small white onion
- 1 cup diced celery, ~2 stalks
- 1 red bell peppers
- 1 cup diced carrots, ~2 medium carrots
- ½ - 1 tbsp sriracha
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne powder
- ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp diced green onions
Instructions
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Start by cooking the rice according to bag/box instructions.
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While the rice is cooking, finely dice carrots, red pepper, onion, and celery (I love using a vegetable chopper!).
-
Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and once fragrant, squeeze the garlic paste into the pan. Stir to avoid burning.
-
Add in the diced carrots and onions. Stir and let cook for 3-4 minutes.
-
Then toss in the diced red pepper and celery. Combine the hot sauce and seasoning into the mixture. Sauté for 5-8 minutes or until carrots are softened and onions/peppers are translucent.
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Fold in cooked rice and stir in sweet chili sauce. Remove from the heat after everything is evenly incorporated.
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Garnish with diced green onions and serve hot. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find VEGETARIAN DIRTY RICE calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
Courtney Paige says
tastes just like the Trader Joe's frozen bag recipe but better! So tasty!
Sydney Van Acker says
holy yum!!!!! meal prepped this with grilled salmon and ate it every day for a week straight.