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.
3 ⅓cups(800ml) beef broth / or beef stock made with two stock cubes
3tbspcheddar cheesegrated plus extra, to serve
1red Jalapeno 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.
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.
Add the orzo and continue to stir until the beef is nicely browned and orzo is a bit toasted.
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.
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.
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!
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.