Healthy Recipe: Turkey Dirty Rice

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!

5 Best Thai Dishes

Do you love Thai food? I do! And not just because I’m half Thai! Not sure what to order? Here are the 5 best Thai dishes to try.

One of the best things about traveling to Thailand was the food. Food, glorious food!  So delicious, so cheap, and so flavorful! From street stands to fancy restaurants, I took much pleasure in dining on the finest and most authentic Thai food available at super cheap prices ($3 per meal). It was simply heaven!  Granted, each restaurant had a different quality, but these are the best Thai dishes I ate:

1. Pad Thai. Cliche perhaps, but a definite classic. Rice noodles with a peanut sauce, you can order this savory dish with either chicken, beef, or tofu.

2. Panang Curry. Desire decadence? This creamy red curry is a fan favorite all over Thailand. Made with creamy coconut milk, curry paste, and basil leaves, this dish will be begging you devour every last drop of sauce! Choose chicken, beef, or tofu in your curry.

3. Thai Chicken with Cashews. It’s as simple as the name sounds. And tastes even better! Chicken, cashews, and vegetables are stir fried together in fish sauce and soy sauce. Heap this fragrant dish over some rice and you are in cashew chicken heaven!

4. Beef Larb. Not as popular, but definitely one of the best. And my personal favorite! Ground beef is marinated in lots of lime juice, sugar, soy sauce, and chili paste. Cooked with a good helping of fresh onions, garlic, and mint leaves, this dish leaves your mouth watering for more. It is served in a bowl with romaine lettuce on the side. Place a heaping spoon of the larb into your lettuce cup, fold, and eat. For all you Paleo people out there: this one is for you!

5. Papaya Salad. Clean, bright, and refreshing, this salad is a must! Green papaya is shredded up and marinated in lime juice, fish sauce, chiles, mint, and cilantro. Sprinkled with finely chopped peanuts, this salad will cleanse your palate and fuel you with vitamin C, A, B, and strong antioxidants like lycopene!

 

What Thai dishes are your favorites? Leave comments below!

xoxo, A