Cajun Dirty Orzo

 

Cajun Dirty Orzo


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.
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée / concentrated tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) orzo pasta
  • 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 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!

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

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