If you’re familiar with Brazilian cuisine, you know we love our rice! We eat it daily, usually as a side, accompanied by beans, or as part of a more elaborated meal, like rice casseroles or our many versions of “dirty rice”. These meals are often a great way to use leftover rice – and whatever else is in your fridge – too. My mom calls them Lavoisier dishes, because “Nothing is lost, everything is transformed!”. She’s a funny woman, my mom. But the truth is this Brazilian style dirty rice is really easy to make. And, if you have leftover rice to use, then it’s pretty much a fast and furious way to get dinner on the table!
What is Dirty Rice?
Dirty rice is a traditional Cajun dish, often made with chicken livers and/or giblets, ground meat, onions, celery and bell peppers, and heavily spiced. It is most common in the Creole regions of southern Louisiana, but also found in other areas in the South, usually referenced as rice dressing. Our version here is not spiced at all, as Brazilian cuisine is quite mild and relies mostly on onion and garlic! Also, in Brazil, this dish is commonly made with Calabresa sausage but, since that’s very hard to find in the US, I’m using chorizo instead. You can use Spanish chorizo – which is cured and spicy – or Argentinian – which is milder and fresh. We also have a version called “Baião de Dois”, made with carne seca, bacon, black eyed peas and halloumi cheese. But that will be the subject of a future post! :)
Ingredients for Brazilian Dirty Rice
You won’t need a whole lot of ingredients to make this. Our list is quite short, but don’t be fooled. Once these guys come together, the results are amazing! Here’s what you need:
White rice – raw or cooked. Lentils. Sausage – I use chorizo, but any sausage will do. Onions and garlic. Tomatoes. Parsley.
What type of lentils should I use?
Brown lentils – which are the most common variety – are what I use! They have a mild, earthy flavor and they hold their shape better than red lentils. You can use canned or raw, but – if using raw – I recommend you cook them separately. Since the lentils take longer to cook, your rice will end up overcooked and mushy if you cook them together.
Serving Brazilian Dirty Rice
This dish is really a meal by itself! Sure you can serve it as a hefty side to chicken or beef, but its all-inclusive nature might make it difficult to pair with anything else. I like to serve it as a main course, with a side of salad or collard greens. It is quite filling!
I confess I was a little hesitant to call this “dirty rice”. I know lots of people will run for the hills at the sound of it, because they hate chicken livers/giblets. But the good news is that there’s none of that here! It’s a simple but delicious dish that will please the whole family, including the picky ones.
Other delicious rice dishes:
Brazilian Creamy Rice Casserole Rice with Almonds and Raisins Dirty Rice with Turkey Sausage and Bacon Bibimbap (Korean Beef and Rice Bowl) How to Cook Rice (the Brazilian Way!)
If using leftover (already cooked) rice, just add the rice at step 3 and skip the water and chicken bouillon. Let it cook briefly, to warm, and then stir the lentils and parsley.
Long Grain White Rice Chorizo Sausage Dutch Oven
