My Mother’s Famous Red Rice
LaVondilyn’s Story
In honor of Black History Month, Business Coach and member of our Consultant Community, LaVondilyn Watson San Kitts, shares her story and a favorite family recipe.
My mother saw a bright future for me
My mother saw a bright future for me—for both of her girls. Despite being raised in an impoverished area, with very little provision, she never allowed us to take our eyes off of what was possible for us. I set my sights high because she did. Her dedication to my future, and her belief in me motivated me to defy odds—from the first in my generation to go to college, and then grad school, to the first to learn languages, live and work abroad, and break the income ceiling.
My mother saw past our circumstances. She believed nothing was impossible for us. What an inspiration that was to me! She made a lot of sacrifices in life for us to achieve great things. Now that she's no longer here, I do my best to make her many sacrifices worth it. My prayer is that I have become the woman of faith that she aspired for me to be. She is, and will forever be, my greatest inspiration.
Change happens best around the dinner table
Every month is Black History month. There are always Black people doing amazing, awe-inspiring things! The best way to honour that "Black Magic" is to acknowledge and support it. Read books by Black authors, visit Black-owned restaurants and art galleries, watch movies with Black casts. Make having Black service-providers normal—like doctors, dentists, realtors, and attorneys.
Don't wait for your children to encounter new cultures at school, teach them diversity at home—have Black friends in your personal life, friends your children come to know and love. That will create change. Change happens best around the dinner table. Genuine, intentional, proactive love could never be legislated. It's fostered in hearts, at home.
My Mother’s Red Rice Recipe
Red Rice, often confused with a Spanish or Mexican Rice, is actually a Lowcountry staple—one my mother could cook like nobody's business! This dish was, and still is, a family favorite. And even though my mother is no longer with us to cook it, I still make it periodically just to honor her legacy. Although, I must admit, my meatless version is tasty, but not near as delectable as hers. My mother was an excellent cook, and she was known for her Red Rice! Sadly, she passed away at the early age of 48 in 2004. This dish always makes me think of her fondly.
So, Red Rice, often called Lowcountry Red Rice or Charleston Red Rice, is long grain white rice, cooked in a seasoned tomato sauce, with bacon, sausage, onions, peppers, and garlic. It is flavorful and delicious! It's often served alongside Fried Chicken, Fried Fish, or BBQ.
Here's my meatless version, but feel free to make it with bacon and sausage - my mother would definitely approve of that decision ;)
Red Rice Recipe
1½ cups long grain rice
1½ cups tomato sauce
1 cup canned stewed tomatoes (optional)
½ cup broth (vegetable or chicken)
1 tbsp organic ketchup
1 small onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 tbsp of minced garlic
1 bay leaf
½ tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tbsp grapeseed oil
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp organic sugar (optional)
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Sea salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
1. Add the oil and butter to a pre-heated dutch oven, or large skillet that is oven-safe. IIf you're making it with meat, render the fat from the bacon and sausage here.
2. Add the bay leaf, and sauté the onions and peppers until softened.
3. Then add garlic and Italian Seasoning and sauté for 1 min.
3. Add the rinsed, raw rice to the mixture, and sauté until each grain is coated.
4. Add in the tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, ketchup, and broth, and season liberally with sea salt, pepper, garlic & onion powder, and sugar (taste for seasoning!).
5. Add a pat of butter, cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 375 ℉ oven for 15 min.
6. Stir to distribute sauce, cover again and bake for another 20min, or until sauce is completely absorbed and rice is cooked through.
7. When removed from the oven, add a final pat of butter, fluff, and serve.
LaVondilyn is a business coach and member of our Consultant Community, living in Denver, Colorado. Follow along as LaVondilyn shares more good food on Instagram @lavondilyn.