Charleston Red Rice

As you all know I’m from Charleston,SC. One of the things we eat all the time is rice. We eat rice almost with every meal. As I’ve gotten older I’m more conscious of my rice intake but I will substitute that white rice for brown in a hot min. One of my favorite rice dishes is red rice. I have it on my tshirt brand and it’s one of my favorite foods. Ain’t nothing like some red rice and fush as we call it. I just started baking my red rice in the last few years. Before I would cook mine in the old-time rice cooker you know the one your mama dem had. I still like mine in the rice cooker but the oven is just as good. Here is how I cook my Charleston red rice.

Vegetable oil for greasing

1 pound of bacon, chopped

1 pound of smoked sausage sliced

1 red onion diced

1 green bell pepper diced

3 cups of chicke broth

6 oz tomato paste

tablespoon of brown sugar

2 1/2 teaspoon of seasong salt

2 teaspoons fo garlic powder

1 teaspoon of black pepper

2 cups of uncooked rice

green onions 1 bunch chopped

preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly oil a 4-quart casserole dish

In a large stockpot over medium heat cook the bacon until crisp, remove bacon from pot, and set aside leaving the bacon drippings in. Add the smoked sausage to the pot and cook for 5 min then add the bacon back in along with the onions and bell pepper. Cook until tender for about 5 minutes

Add the chicken broth,, paste, and sugar. Stir until combined then spring in the seasonings. Add the rice and stir again. Simmer for 15 min over medium heat

In a casserole dish, add the mixture. Cover with foil and place in the oven for 40 minutes. Once finished remove from the oven, uncover and stir. Let cool and top with green onions before serving.

The rice will look a little mushed but should be fluffy too. A mixture of in between.