CAJUN CABBAGE ~ BLOG 366.207

Spicy and cheesy as well as hearty. Also a perfect dish for a cold winter’s eve, church socials, potlucks or even summer suppers. The cabbage stays somewhat crisp and makes this almost like a warm salad.

CAJUN CABBAGE

1 pound QUALITY ground beef
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
1 can ORIGINAL Rotel tomatoes
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 cup long grain rice (uncooked)
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped basil
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped oregano
1/4 +/- cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon FRANK’s original hot sauce
1 small head cabbage, chopped
1 – 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Heat skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add ground beef and season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Drain beef well.
  • Add oil to skillet.
  • When oil is heated add onion and pepper, sautéing until onion is translucent.
  • Add garlic, sautéing a minute more.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, hot sauce, basil, oregano, cayenne and rice, stirring to combine.
  • Spread into an ungreased baking dish.
  • Toss cabbage pieces and cheese together.
  • Top with chopped cabbage and cheese.
  • Cover and bake 1 hour + or until rice is tender.

GREEN ARROZ con POLLO ~ BLOG 366.137

GREEN ARROZ con POLLO adapted from A Cozy Kitchen

The green part of this recipe is a spicy cilantro flavored Latin rice and chicken dish with a Peruvian influence from what I’ve been able to deduce. Top it with salsa criolla for that special flair of flavor.


1 LARGE shallot, halved and sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 bunch of cilantro leaves
1/2 jalapeño pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
3+ cups of chicken stock or water, divided
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 cup medium or long-grain white rice

  • Add the onion, garlic cloves, cilantro, jalapeño, cumin, paprika and about 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth to a blender. Pulse until COMPLETELY smooth. It will smell SUPER spicy, but that will mellow as it cooks. Set aside.
  • Season the chicken with a generous amount of FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Dredge chicken in the flour.
  • Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large cast iron skillet – I like to use my enamel coated cast iron.
  • When oil is hot, add shallots and chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until browned.
  • Remove the chicken and transfer to a plate and keep warm.
  • Add the rice to the skillet and toast it for about 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Pour in the cilantro mixture and an additional cup of chicken broth.
  • Layer chicken on top of rice mixture.
  • Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Simmer 45-50 minutes until rice is tender.

NOTE:

  • Check every 15-20 minutes and top off with about 1/4 cup of stock each time, as needed to keep rice moist and loose. We like excess sauce to spoon over the chicken.
  • Adjust seasoning as necessary before serving.

SALSA
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
Juice from 2 LARGE limes
+/- 1/2 jalapeño, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
FRESH ground sea salt

  • Mix together the red onion, juice from 2 limes, jalapeño and minced cilantro in a mixing bowl.
  • Add a few pinches of salt and let marinate for about 15 minutes.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning to taste just before serving.

ASSEMBLY

  • Divide the rice amongst plates and top with a spoonful of salsa and chicken.
  • Ladle more sauce over chicken.
  • Garnish with cotija cheese.

CREAM OF TOMATO CHICKEN with RICE

CREAM OF TOMATO CHICKEN with RICE
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups tomato puree
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Large shallot, finally chopped
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped basil
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
1/2 cup long grain rice
Bacon Crumbles (optional)
Parmesan cheese (optional)

  • Bring broth and shallot to a SLOW boil.
  • Add tomato puree, brown sugar, rice, celery salt, garlic powder and basil.
  • Simmer 25 minutes until rice is tender.
  • Stir in buttermilk and chicken pieces until well blended.
  • Season to taste and simmer 10 minutes more.
  • Serve in a toasted bread bowl or with toasted croutons.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon if desired.

HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS

HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS
2 tablespoons butter
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
+/-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 cups asparagus pieces (1 bunch cleaned, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces)
1 tablespoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 tablespoon honey
cooked rice

  • Heat oil in a large skillet over a medium heat.
  • Saute chicken pieces, shallot, garlic and red chili pepper flakes for 6-8 minutes.
  • Add asparagus and cook 3 minutes more.
  • Whisk together the liquid aminos and honey. Add to skillet and cook another couple minutes.
  • Serve immediately over rice.

PAELLA STYLE CHICKEN & RICE

PAELLA STYLE CHICKEN & RICE
1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed and drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 pound Andouille (smoked pork) sausage, thinly sliced
1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, quartered
1 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground sea salt
2 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 fennel bulb with feathers, sliced saving feathers for garnish
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon saffron
1 can petite diced tomatoes
2 cups Arborio (Italian short grain) rice
1 cup water
3/4 cup dry sherry
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound small shrimp, cleaned and de-veined

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in large saute’ pan over medium high heat.
  • Add sausage and brown about 5 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to a plate and cover.
  • Add chicken pieces and brown on all sides. Remove with slotted spoon to a plate and cover.
  • Add remaining oil to pan.
  • Add fennel, onions and bell pepper to pan sauteing until fennel softens.
  • Stir in garlic, paprika, salt and saffron, stirring until fragrant and sizzling.
  • Add tomatoes and cook, stirring 5 minutes to blend well.
  • Add rice and coat well. Add water, chicken broth and sherry. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
  • Arrange chicken and shrimp on top of rice, cooking another 5 minutes covered to heat chicken and shrimp through.
  • Garnish with fennel fronds and Enjoy.