The First Taste: Turkey Dirty Rice

by Alicia Ying

This weekend was incredibly gloomy for LA. Pouring down rain several days in a row got me missing the soul food I used to eat when I was living in Atlanta.  I always loved soul food because it was hearty, satisfying, and full of spices that tingled my palate. Memories of corn bread, fried okra, hush puppies, and dirty rice rushed into my mind causing my tummy to yearn for the taste of that delicious comfort food.  I sprinted to the store to recreate a soul food dish to soothe my soul as the rain kept on beating down around me.

I decided to make a satisfying turkey dirty rice! In the South, they tend to use chicken bits, livers, and gizzards, but I wanted more meat, so I opted for some ground turkey.

YES TO THE YING TIP: You can also use ground beef if you’re craving more sustenance! I always recommend getting organic grass-fed beef as those animals are not injected with hormones. Bonus-- it tastes so much better! You can actually get a pound of organic ground beef at your local supermarket for only $7.99/lb. One pound of beef will make 4 servings of my dish. Affordable and healthy!

Add any extra veggies you’d like for flavor and crunch!

YES TO THE YING TIP: For a paleo version of this dish, skip the rice and spoon the meat and veggies on top of a salad or into romaine lettuce cups for a clean and powerful protein snack!

Please enjoy and let me know what other veggies you added by commenting below.

Stay warm and dry!

Much love,

Alicia

Turkey Dirty Rice Recipe

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cloves garlic minced

1 small red onion chopped

1 lb ground turkey

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

½ red pepper chopped

½ yellow pepper chopped

2 cups broccoli chopped

1 package of rice (I use Trader Joe’s Organic brown rice)

Directions

1. Place some EVOO (extra virigin olive oil) in a large pot to cover the bottom of the pan and heat it up.
2. Add the onion and garlic to start caramelizing, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Add the ground turkey. Break it up into chunks so it cooks evenly. Allow it to brown for 1 minute.
4. Then add the spices and stir it into your turkey. Keep stirring every few minutes until the turkey has been almost cooked through, about 9 minutes.
5. Toss in your broccoli, red peppers, yellow peppers, and any other veggies. Mix well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
6. While your meat and veggies are cooking, pop your package of rice into the microwave for 3 minutes.
7. Once cooked, toss the rice into the pot and mix well. Cook for 1 minute.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Enjoy!
   
   
   
   
   

   Alicia Ying is a professional baker, born and bred in sweet, southern Georgia. A world traveler, Alicia enjoys eating delicious global cuisine and savoring a good cup of coffee. Also a blooming actress and producer, she has been seen on "Days of Our Lives," "Young & The Restless," independent films, and multiple web series.

   
   

   Alicia's passion is to create dishes that are healthy and affordable. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. More adventures in food and travel on her blog: yestotheying.com.