Description
Charleston Red Rice is a flavorful Southern comfort dish made with turkey bacon, aromatic vegetables, tomato paste, and long-grain white rice, slow-baked to tender perfection with chicken broth and finished with fresh parsley for a vibrant garnish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 4 slices turkey bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 celery rib, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Other Ingredients
- Olive oil (optional, as needed)
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice, rinsed until water runs clear
- 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, warmed
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook bacon: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, cook the turkey bacon until crisp, about 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon, leaving the drippings in the pan.
- Sauté vegetables: Add the diced onion and chopped celery to the skillet. If there isn’t enough bacon fat, add a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion softens, then add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer mixture: Stir in the tomato paste, kosher salt, sugar, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to meld the flavors. Add the chopped bacon along with the rinsed rice, then pour in the warmed chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Bake rice: Cover the skillet tightly with foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the oven, let stand for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice removes excess starch, which helps prevent the rice from becoming too sticky.
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the mixture to a baking dish before baking.
- The turkey bacon adds smoky flavor but keeps the dish lighter than using traditional pork bacon.
- Adjust salt to taste, especially if your chicken broth is not low-sodium.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Keywords: Charleston Red Rice, Southern rice dish, turkey bacon rice, baked rice recipe, tomato paste rice, Southern comfort food
