Dirty Rice with Smoked Sausage

Ingredients

• ½ lb ground pork
• ½ lb smoked sausage
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cup chicken broth
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 3 clove garlic
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1½ tsp Cajun seasoning
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)
• 2 green onions (optional)

Steps

1. Dice the onion, celery, and green bell pepper. Mince the garlic. Slice the smoked sausage into half-moon pieces.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground pork and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Add sliced smoked sausage to the skillet with the pork and cook for 5-7 minutes until lightly browned. Remove both meats from the skillet and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
4. Add diced onion, celery, and green bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic, Cajun seasoning, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper, cooking for 1 minute more until fragrant.
5. Return the cooked pork and sausage to the skillet. Stir in the rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
6. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork. Garnish with fresh parsley and sliced green onions, if desired, before serving.