Cajun Dirty Orzo
Love Cajun Dirty Rice? You will definitely adore my Cajun Dirty Orzo recipe! This one pan wonder is hearty, delicious, thrifty and quick. Perfect for a midweek meal and a kid favourite.
Servings: 4
Calories: 515kcal
Equipment
- Chef Pan
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 shallots / 1 onion , finely diced
- 2 green bell peppers , finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning see notes
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp garlic & herb seasoning , or garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 lb (500g) ground beef , I used lean beef mince.
- 1 ½ cups (300g) orzo pasta
- 2 tbsp tomato purée / concentrated tomato paste
- 3 ⅓ cups (800ml) beef broth or beef stock made with two stock cubes
- 3 tbsp cheddar cheese grated plus extra, to serve
- 1 red jalapeño sliced , to serve (optional)
- Fresh thyme , to serve
Instructions
- Heat the butter and oil in a pan and add the shallots, chopped pepper. Sauté over medium-low heat for five minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and seasonings.1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 shallots / 1 onion, 2 green bell peppers, 3 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp celery salt, 1 tsp garlic & herb seasoning, 2 tsp dried parsley, ½ tsp salt
- Turn up the heat slightly and add the beef, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon so that it starts to brown.1 lb (500g) ground beef
- Add the orzo and continue to stir until the beef is nicely browned and orzo is a bit toasted.1 ½ cups (300g) orzo pasta
- Stir in the tomato paste and finally the beef broth/ stock. Bring to a rolling boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is cooked, about 15-20 minutes.2 tbsp tomato purée / concentrated tomato paste, 3 ⅓ cups (800ml) beef broth
- Turn the heat off and stir in the grated cheese so that it melts into the dish. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh thyme.3 tbsp cheddar cheese, Fresh thyme
- Serve with sliced jalapeno or dried red chili flakes for an extra bit of heat plus more cheese (can you ever have enough?). SUPER YUM!1 red jalapeño sliced
Video
Notes
- Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Stir in some water when reheating to loosen up the orzo. This recipe is not suitable for freezing.
- This recipe is very child-friendly provided your Cajun seasoning is on the mild side. If you are using a spicy blend then add one teaspoon to start with and increase, to taste.
- Use low sodium beef broth / stock cubes as the seasoning contains salt.
- You can replace the lean ground beef with any type of ground beef as well as ground turkey or crumbled sausage if preferred.
Nutrition
Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 1193mg | Potassium: 1214mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1406IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 5mg
