Disclosure: This recipe post has been sponsored by Zatarain’s Cajun Smoked Sausage, which is available nationwide at Kroger and Sam’s stores.
I like to think of fried rice as a method to serve up any type of flavors. Here, I incorporate Zatarain’s Cajun Smoked Sausage and Creole Seasoning for a New Orleans-inspired twist.
A fresh pot of rice is a thing of beauty, but once it’s cooled and sat overnight in the refrigerator, it is changed forever. But with a little know-how and a few minutes back at the stove you can turn into something new and different—and just as exciting. That’s where fried rice comes in.
Yes, many associate fried rice with Asian cuisines and flavor profiles, but it’s my opinion that you can use a similar technique to incorporate just about any ingredients or flavors that you wish. So for this recipe, we’re taking fried rice to the bayou to infuse it with Cajun and Creole tastes. And no company represents these cuisines better than Zatarain’s with their wide range of products.
For the unfamiliar, Cajun and Creole cooking originated in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The cuisines are known for their love of rice, bold spices, and flavorful meat and seafood. Some of the signature dishes are jambalaya, gumbo, and shrimp etoufée.
Food Holy Trinity
While Cajun and Creole cuisines have some differences (such as whether or not there’s a prevalence of tomatoes), one thing that they have in common is the “holy trinity“—a combination of (typically green) bell peppers, celery, and onion. This is a version of the French mirepoix, which includes carrots instead of bell peppers, and forms the base of much Cajun and Creole cooking.
Cajun Smoked Sausage Fried Rice Ingredients
This recipe only calls for a handful of ingredients, but is full of flavor thanks to Zatarain’s Cajun Smoked Sausage and Creole Seasoning. The vegetable holy trinity (green bell pepper, celery, and onion) are included to boost that New Orleans flair. Lastly, you can’t make fried rice without rice (I call for white rice, but any type of rice—or grain for that matter—would do), and I always tend to include eggs when I make fried rice (though I suppose you could leave it out if you really wanted).
Enjoy!
Disclosure: This recipe post has been sponsored by Zatarain’s Cajun Smoked Sausage, which is available nationwide at Kroger and Sam’s stores.
Cajun Smoked Sausage Fried Rice
I like to think of fried rice as a method to serve up any type of flavors. Here, I incorporate Zatarain's Cajun Smoked Sausage and Creole Seasoning for a New Orleans-inspired twist.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons Zatarain's Creole Seasoning
- 4 cups leftover white rice
- 7 ounces Zatarain's Cajun Style Smoked Sausage, quartered lengthwise and sliced
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper, celery, onion, and Zatarain's Creole Seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the rice and Zatarain's Cajun Style Smoked Sausage and continue to cook, until everything is heated through and the rice starts to crisp up a bit, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the eggs, stirring frequently, until cooked, about 1 minute more. Serve.
This sounds delicious, but I have a lot of spices already. What spice blend could I make to substitute for Zatarain’s Creole Seasoning?
I’m not quite sure how to replicate it. All I know is that it’s a mix of different types of pepper, paprika, garlic, salt, and probably a couple other things.
There’s something called Tony Cacheris’ cajun seasoning, or something like that, which is probably similar. I got it on Amazon.
basic creole blend.
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon white pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
5 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons salt
Just showed this recipe to my husband and it got a major thumbs up! Hoping I won’t have too much trouble finding the seasoning & sausage- thanks for the ingredient pic:-)
Everything is readily available. I live in the boonies and we can get everything called for!
DO YOU COOK THE SAUSAGE FIRST BEFORE YOU MIX IT IN OR JUST PUT IT IN UNCOOKED AND IT COOKS WITHIN THE 5 TO 7 MINUTES ??? PLEASE RESPOND. THANK YOU
The sausage is sold already fully cooked.