Charleston Red Rice

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish

Begin by preheating your oven and lightly coating a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

2. Cook Bacon

Place a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, and lay in your bacon slices. Let them sizzle and turn golden for about 3 minutes on each side. Once they’re crisped to perfection, transfer them to a paper-towel-lined plate.

3. Sauté Vegetables

In the same skillet, now rich with bacon drippings, sauté your chopped onion, celery, and green bell pepper with a teaspoon of kosher salt. Give these about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and the aroma beckons.

4. Add Garlic and Toast Rice

Stir in the minced garlic with those tender vegetables and let it cook just until it becomes fragrant, which usually takes about 30 seconds. Now for the rice, add it to the skillet and stir to coat with the vegetable mixture. Let it toast for just half a minute.

5. Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer

Crumble your reserved bacon and add it back to the skillet, along with the tomato purée, chicken stock or water, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, sugar, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne. Stir this mixture and bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and let it all simmer for about 5 minutes.

6. Bake

Carefully transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish and cover it with foil. Slide it into the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, checking at the 30-minute mark. If the rice appears too dry or isn't quite cooked through, add a bit more water or stock.

7. Garnish and Serve

When everything's cooked to tender perfection, fluff the red rice with a fork and scatter a handful of parsley leaves over the top for a fresh, herbaceous garnish.