Save room because this Vegan Dirty Rice is hearty, filling, and incredibly delicious! A saucy plant-based meat and veggie gravy is tossed with rice for the most amazing bite. This spicy, Cajun-inspired dish is so easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes!
This is one of those great meal ideas when you’re looking for something quick, easy, and full of robust flavor. Whip it up when you’re trying to fill a large group or if you want a make-ahead meal to last for a few days.
This vegan Cajun rice is also known as dirty rice dressing. It uses traditional flavors found in New Orleans’ cooking but is open to customizations! For example, you can use Creole seasoning instead of Cajun.
The vegetable base that I use is called the “holy trinity” of veggies, which involves celery, onion, and bell pepper. However, you can toss in any other favorites, making this meal a lovely option for finishing up any softening vegetables you might have.
The plant-based beef and sausage crumbles offer a distinct flavor here and they give that beautiful brown, “dirty” appearance of the rice.
If you are looking for another Louisiana favorite, especially for Mardi Gras celebrations, be sure to give my Vegan Cajun Pasta a try! It’s so savory and delicious.
And for more hearty and flavorful vegan meals, you will love my Stroganoff, Puff Pastry Pot Pie, Cheesy Casserole, Hamburger Helper, and Skillet Lasagna.
You Will Love This Recipe Because…
- It’s a breeze to make
- Has a punch of spicy heat
- Is completely plant-based
- Full of vegetables and is very filling
- Customizable with different veggies or vegan protein
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Ingredients And Substitutions
- Rice – My go-to’s here are long grain white rice or jasmine. You can use any other kind such as brown rice, wild rice, cauliflower rice or even quinoa. Leftover rice works here too!
- Broth – Low-sodium vegetable broth or bouillon kicks up the flavor although you can always substitute it with water or vegan no-chicken broth.
- Vegetables – The Louisiana trinity of veggies, celery, onion, and green bell pepper form the base of the gravy.
- Vegan Meat – Plant-based beef and sausage crumbles give this meal that authentic dirty rice flavor and texture. Feel free to swap it these out for other preferred vegan meat replacements.
- Aromatics & Seasoning – Fresh garlic, Cajun seasoning, dried oregano, bay leaves, and a little salt are so good here. You can use powdered garlic if you’re in a pinch and the Cajun seasoning can be swapped out for Creole.
- Flour – A little flour helps to thicken up the sauce. A gluten-free alternative can be used instead or half the amount in cornstarch.
- Garnish – I like to sprinkle on sliced green onions before enjoying this dish. Another tasty idea is to add fresh parsley.
How To Make Vegan Dirty Rice
Here are some quick visual steps. Find the full recipe with exact measurements on the recipe card below.
Cook the rice according to the package instructions with vegetable broth.
Sauté the vegetables until they’re softened then add in the vegan meat, garlic, and seasoning.
Once the “meat” has browned, coat everything with the flour and pour in the broth and bay leaves.
Use this liquid to scrape at any stuck bits at the bottom of the pan.
Let this simmer into a thick gravy. Then, fold in the rice and enjoy!
Storage And Reheat
This dirty rice makes for tasty leftovers! Simply cover and refrigerate it for 2 days. Reheat it in the microwave until it is warmed through.
Recipe Variation Ideas
- Lower the spice level by using less Cajun seasoning.
- Kick up the spiciness with cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or chili peppers.
- Use tofu, soy curls, seitan, jackfruit, or vegan chicken in place of the plant-based crumbles.
- Give it a crusty top layer by baking it for a few minutes with bread crumbs or vegan cheese.
I hope you loved this recipe! If you try it, please let me know what you think with a rating and comment below. Your feedback really supports my blog and is helpful to other readers! 🙂 You can stay updated on my latest recipes by following me on Pinterest and joining my Email List.
Vegan Dirty Rice
Bonnie – Serene Trail
Ingredients
For the Rice
- 1 1/2 cups rice, long grain white or jasmine, uncooked
- 3 cups vegetable broth
For the Gravy
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 12 oz vegan beef
- 14 oz vegan sausage
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to the package instructions. Use broth in place of water.
- Meanwhile, heat a large pan over medium-high and then add oil to it. Add the celery, bell pepper, and onions. Sauté them for 5 minutes or until they are softened.
- Add the vegan beef, vegan sausage, garlic, Cajun seasoning, oregano, and salt. Stir regularly as this cooks for 5 minutes or until the vegan meat has browned.
- Reduce the heat level to low and coat everything with the flour. Pour in the vegetable broth and add the bay leaves. Scrape at any bits that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan. Stir occasionally as this simmers and thickens for about 5 minutes.
- Fold the rice into the gravy. Garnish it with green onions and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Lower the spice level by using less Cajun seasoning.
- Increase the spiciness with cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or chili peppers.
- Use tofu, soy curls, seitan, jackfruit, or vegan chicken in place of the plant-based crumbles.
- Give it a crusty top layer by baking it for a few minutes with bread crumbs or vegan cheese.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate from third-party calculations.
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