Carolina Red Rice
Transport your taste buds to the Lowcountry with this comforting Carolina Red Rice, a soul-warming Southern classic packed with rich flavors and hearty ingredients. This one-pot dish combines fluffy long-grain white rice with smoky crumbled bacon, sautéed onions, and bell peppers, all simmered in a savory tomato-based broth spiced with paprika and a hint of cayenne for a subtle kick. Perfect as a robust side dish or a filling main course, this recipe embodies rustic charm and down-home cooking. With just 15 minutes of prep time and simple techniques like rinsing the rice for extra fluffiness and simmering for optimal flavor absorption, this dish is as rewarding to make as it is to eat. Whether you're hosting a gathering or craving a warm bowl of comfort food, Carolina Red Rice promises to deliver a taste of the South in every bite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2.5 cups water
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 3 units garlic cloves
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.25 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Set aside.
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, leaving about 2 tablespoons of rendered fat in the pan, and crumble the bacon. Set aside.
Dice the yellow onion and green bell pepper. Mince the garlic cloves.
Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the skillet with the bacon fat. Sauté over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Gently stir in the rinsed rice, ensuring it is evenly distributed and submerged in the liquid.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and let the mixture simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and tender. Avoid uncovering the lid or stirring during this time.
Remove the skillet from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Fluff the rice with a fork, fold in the crumbled bacon, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Serve warm as a flavorful side dish or standalone meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
170 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 3.4 g | 4% | |
| Saturated Fat | 1.0 g | 5% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 8 mg | 3% | |
| Sodium | 532 mg | 23% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.8 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.4 g | 8% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.1 g | ||
| Protein | 6.8 g | 14% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 44 mg | 3% | |
| Iron | 1.0 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 426 mg | 9% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
