Red Rice

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
• 8 bacon slices
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, pressed
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. 1. Rinse rice with cold running water 3 minutes or until water is no longer cloudy. Drain and set aside.
2. 2. Cook bacon in a 3 1/2-qt. saucepan over medium heat 10 minutes or until crisp. Drain and set bacon aside, reserving 2 Tbsp. bacon drippings in pan.
3. 3. Sauté onion in hot drippings in saucepan over medium-high heat 8 minutes or until onion is tender; add garlic, and sauté 1 minute.
4. 4. Stir in rinsed rice, chicken broth, and next 3 ingredients; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring mixture every 7 to 10 minutes.
5. 5. Remove from heat; fluff with a fork. Stir in crumbled bacon and 3 Tbsp. parsley; garnish, if desired.