Cajun Fried Rice

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This delicious cajun fried rice recipe is exactly what you need for a busy night. Prepared with kielbasa sausages and cajun seasoning, this one-pot rice dish is the perfect meal to have on the table in less than 30 minutes.

We all love fried rice, and this Cajun fried rice is just a twist with an addictive and mouthwatering flavor of Cajun cuisine. 

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Cajun fried rice is a classic comfort food that can be loaded with shrimp, chicken, beef, and or Andouille sausages. Any of these are a great protein addition to the dish. 

This Cajun fried rice recipe is perfect for lunch or when you are too busy to cook a full-blown meal on a weeknight. 

What is a Cajun Style Fried Rice?

Cajun fried rice is a flavorful dish that combines Cajun seasoning with fried rice. It is prepared by cooking rice in a wok or skillet with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and celery and seasoning it with a blend of spices, including cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and thyme. 

For those who don’t know, the rice is first cooked and then cooled before they are stir-fried with the vegetables and spices. 

Some recipes also include shrimp, chicken, or sausage. The choice is truly yours as to the type of protein you want to use. 

Cajun fried rice is extremely popular in Louisiana and other parts of the southern United States.

You can enjoy it as a side dish as well as a main course. In fact, it can be enjoyed on its own, but it won’t hurt to pair it with other Cajun or Creole dishes such as gumbo.

What is Cajun Cuisine?

It is a style of cooking that is strongly influenced by West African, Spanish, and French techniques. It is at times referred to as rustic cuisine as it is made from ingredients readily accessible. 

Cajun meals are usually accompanied by some type of steamed rice with shrimp and andouille sausage as a protein. 

This type of cuisine derived from the indigenous American traditions with a strong West-African influence when French colonists were deported from Eastern Canada to Southern Louisiana during the French and Indian War by the British. 

Many meals that are now considered classic Cajun Cuisine traditions were also adopted from Haiti, which of course derived from its West-African ancestry.

For instance, Gumbo is the Haitian version of Okra Stew. In West Africa, okra is ki ngombo, and it is shortened to gombo.

What Is So Unique About Cajun Fried Rice?

Cajun fried rice is unique because it combines the flavors and ingredients of two different culinary traditions; Cajun and Asian cuisine. 

Cajun cuisine has bold and spicy flavors, while Asian cuisine is known for its use of rice and stir-frying techniques.

The use of Cajun seasoning in fried rice gives it a spicy kick and a unique flavor profile that is different from traditional Asian-style fried rice. Also, the addition of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and celery adds a crunchy texture and a depth of flavors to the dish.

What is Cajun Rice

Cajun Rice is a form of dirty rice. The name dirty rice is simply from the color of the rice after it is cooked due to the various ingredients and seasoning added to it. 

What Does Cajun Seasoning Consist of?

Cajun seasoning typically includes cayenne pepper, both onion and garlic powder, paprika, salt, white and or black pepper, and cumin. Depending on the brand, other spices may be included. 

What To Pair With Cajun Fried Rice?

Cajun fried rice is a flavorful and satisfying dish that tastes amazing on its own or paired with other dishes to create a complete meal. 

One popular option is to serve Cajun fried rice alongside a protein such as grilled or blackened chicken or shrimp. For a lighter option, you can pair Cajun fried rice with a simple salad or vegetable side dish. 

A crisp salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers, dressed with a vinaigrette, provides a refreshing addition. 

As far as beverages are concerned, you can enjoy it with white wine, cold beer, and a New Orleans cocktail, but why not enjoy it with our lemonade instead. 

How To Store Cajun Fried Rice?

To store Cajun fried rice in the refrigerator, you’ve to shift the rice to an airtight container once it is at room temperature. 

It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. For longer storage, you can use a freezer bag rather than an airtight container and put it in the freezer for over three months. 

Length of Storage     

The good news is, due to the seasonings in this meal you can store it for a lengthy period. In an airtight container, it can be frozen for up to a month. Simply remove from the freezer and thaw and reheat. 

You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week. I would not recommend any longer especially if you add any type of meat protein. 

The Bottom Line

If your mouth is filled with water right now, it’s time you collect all the ingredients or run to the grocery store because this dish deserves to be enjoyed! 

More Fried Rice Recipes To Enjoy

After trying this fried rice recipe, we recommend you try this tuna fried rice and this mango fried rice recipe.