Red Rice

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 lb smoked ham (about 2 cups) or 1/2 lb lean bacon, diced (about 2 cups)
• 2 medium onions, finely diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 stalks celery, trimmed and finely diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 large green bell pepper, cored, seeded and finely diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, with liquid
• 3/4 cup tomato puree
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cups long grain rice
• hot sauce

Recipe

• 1 heat the oil in a 4-qt pot over medium heat.
• 2 add the ham, onions, celery, and green peppers and cook until the vegetables are wilted.
• 3 add the tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, pepper and chili powder.
• 4 lower the heat to simmering and simmer, covered 30 minutes.
• 5 measure the sauce and, if necessary, add enough water to bring the volume to 5 cups.
• 6 stir the rice into the liquid and heat to boiling.
• 7 reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, until the rice is tender about 45 minutes.
• 8 stir once or twice during cooking to prevent sticking.
• 9 check the seasonings and add hot sauce to taste.