A deeply flavorful Lowcountry dish with Gullah roots, this red rice is slow-cooked with bacon, sausage, vegetables, and rich tomato sauce. It's the perfect comfort food side or main, steeped in Southern heritage and bold Creole spices.
Course Casserole, Comfort Food, Dinner, Side Dish, Soul Food
Cuisine American, Gullah, Southern
Servings 4
Calories 547kcal
Ingredients
4slicesbaconchopped
1medium onionfinely chopped
1celery stalkfinely chopped
1bell pepperany color, finely chopped
4clovesgarlicfinely chopped
6ozandouille sausageroughly chopped
6oztomato paste1 can
8oztomato sauce1 can
1tbsplight brown sugarpacked
2 to 3tspCreole seasoning
2cupsuncooked ricerinsed until water runs clear
2cupschicken stock
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepperto taste
Fresh parsleychopped, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x9-inch casserole dish with baking spray. Set on a baking sheet and set aside.
In a medium saucepot over low heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set on paper towels, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
Add onion, celery, and bell pepper to the bacon fat. Cook over medium heat until tender and slightly golden, 4–5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add sausage to the pot and cook until browned, about 2–3 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, followed by tomato sauce, brown sugar, and Creole seasoning. Mix until well combined.
Add the cooked bacon and rinsed rice to the pot, stirring to coat. Let the rice toast for 3–4 minutes.
Transfer mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Carefully pour chicken stock over the top.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and let the rice rest undisturbed for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, garnish with parsley, and serve.
Notes
For an extra kick, add a few dashes of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the sauce base.