Healthy Jambalaya Rice

I’m not sure my title does much more justice to this recipe than the magazines title but I just couldn’t bring myself to call it “Dirty Rice” because….well….it isn’t dirty rice not even close.  It is, however, a very yummy and healthy dinner that you should definitely try!

Healthy Jambalaya Rice
adapted from Clean Eating Magazine (Creole Dirty Rice) – Serves 6

1 cup Instant Brown Rice (I used Uncle Ben’s)
3 Tailgater’s Turkey Mild Italian Sausages
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium green pepper, diced (discard core & seeds)
1 cup fresh brown mushrooms coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 14 oz can red kidney beans (I think it was 14oz…just the regular size can)
1 bay leaf
2 tomatoes cored seeded & finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp cajun seasoning (I used Hy’s)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Optional: Frank’s Red Hot or Tabasco Sauce

Prepare rice per package instructions.

Boil sausages for approximately 10 minutes or until cooked through.  Drain & cool before slicing into rounds.

Spray the bottom of a large pot with cooking spray.  Heat over medium high heat.  Cook onions, green pepper, mushrooms and garlic until tender.  About 3 to 5 minutes.  Add kidney beans and bay leaf.  Heat through (about 3 minutes).  Add tomatoes and and cook for 10 – 15 more minutes.

Remove bay leaf.  Add cajun seasoning, rice and sausage to pot.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Season to taste & serve.

Recipe Notes: The seasoning in this recipe leaves it very NOT spicy.  I left it this way in the hopes that Evan would eat it.  He ate the sausage and the mushrooms but nothing else.  Instead of upping the cajun seasoning, we used Frank’s Red Hot sauce to give it a kick.  Dewey loved this recipe and wants it again soon.