Cajun Beef with Cauliflower Rice

Cajun beef with cauliflower rice. I love Cajun inspired flavors and I love one-pot meals. This meals combines the two in an easy and quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients:

·         1 tbsp oil

·         1 red bell pepper, diced

·         1 green bell pepper, diced

·         1 onion, diced

·         3 cups baby spinach or power mixed greens, chopped

·         1 lb ground beef (or ground chicken or turkey)

·         2 tbsp. Cajun seasoning*

·         1 14 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes (Muir glen or Trader Joe’s are great ones)

·         Salt and pepper

·         Cauliflower rice

Heat a large deep pan over medium heat. Add in the oil, then the bell pepper, onion, and greens. Sautee until the vegetables soften. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp of the Cajun seasoning. Add in the beef, season with salt and pepper and the remaining 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning and brown the meat. Once the meat has browned, add in the can of diced tomatoes and bring the liquid to a simmer. Once the meat and veggies are cooked through and all of the liquid has cooked out, it’s ready!

While the beef and veggies are cooking, place your cauliflower rice in a saucepan with 1 tbsp of butter, salt, and pepper. Let it cook until heated through and soft, but not mushy. This typically takes about 10 minutes. Trader Joe’s offers pre-riced cauliflower, fresh or frozen, which makes the rice a breeze. You can also make the rice yourself using a head of cauliflower, chopped into smaller pieces and pulsed in a food processor or blender until the cauliflower resembles rice, but does not blend into mush or liquid. It will cook down the same way, but with less water than the frozen riced cauliflower that you can buy. Because of this, if you are making your cauliflower rice from scratch, add in ½ cup of chicken stock to the rice and let the liquid all cook out before serving.

Serve the Cajun beef on the rice. Top it with avocado or fresh herbs, such as chopped parsley or cilantro, for a beautiful and balanced but easy to make quick and delicious meal.

*Cajun seasoning can often be found in the bulk spice section of your local grocery store. If you’re in the Portland area, New seasons has a great one.