Vegan Charleston Red Rice
Vegan Charleston Red Rice is a South Carolina favorite made from rice, plant-based sausages, and tomato sauce. It’s one of the most beloved comfort meals from the Gullah Geechee culture.
This meatless Southern Red Rice recipe is the perfect balance between sweet and savory. The acidity of the tomato sauce works great with the sweetness from the brown sugar.
Like Hoppin’ John and Collard Greens, the smokiness from the vegan sausages also elevates the dish to an entirely new level.
This rice dish was created by Gullah people from the West Coast of Africa. The origins can be traced back to the African Jollof, which has long grain rice, tomato sauce, onions, and meat.
Ingredient Notes
- Carolina Gold Rice – The most authentic rice for this dish. It is the type of rice that would have been used in the antebellum period when this dish was invented.
This rice remains dry after being cooked while staying fluffy. Parboiled rice also works well for this recipe.
I’ve also made the dish using long-grain rice. Although it was still tasty, it cooked to a softer consistency than Carolina Gold. I would recommend using 2 cups (120ml) of vegetable stock instead.
- Olive oil – I used olive oil, but a neutral oil such as canola oil or vegetable oil also works.
- Vegan sausages – Adds a smoky flavor and an extra meaty bite to the dish. My favorite vegan sausages are Beyond Sausage Brats (original flavor). Add vegan bacon for a smokier flavor and texture.
- Brown sugar – To contrast the acidity of the tomato paste and the spice of the red pepper flakes.
Brown sugar also has a molasses flavor that will add to the depth of the dish. Granulated cane sugar is a good substitute.
- Tomato paste – Puts the red in ‘Gullah Red Rice’ while adding acidity and taste to the dish.
- Smoked paprika – adds more smoky flavor to the dish along. If you decide not to add plant-based meat, add extra paprika.
- Red pepper flakes – Add more red pepper flakes for a hot and spicy flavor.
How To Make Vegan Charleston Red Rice
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
2. Wash the rice in a large bowl filled with water. Stir the rice in the water to release the starches, then drain thoroughly. Repeat 2 or 3 more times until the water is clear.
3. Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the vegan sausages and cook until they start to brown.
4. Toss in the onion and continue cooking until browned.
5. Add the garlic, bell pepper, sugar, paprika and pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, then stir in the tomato paste.
6. Add the vegetable stock and allow it to simmer for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Stir in the washed and drained rice and bring to a simmer.
8. Cover the pot with aluminum foil, then the lid. Place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Tip: If you don’t have an oven-safe pot, add the rice and sauce to a 9″ by 11″ casserole dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake as directed.
9. Remove the pot from the oven and test the rice for doneness. Then allow it to rest while covered for 20 minutes. The steam will continue to cook the rice.
10. Fluff the rice with a fork, then serve.
Storage Suggestions
After the dish has cooled off, store the leftovers in a food storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This dish can be made ahead of time and frozen in a freezer-safe food storage container for up to 3 months.
Just make sure to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating the leftovers.
How to Reheat
Microwave: Take the leftovers out of the fridge, place them in a microwave-safe dish, and add a splash of water. Reheat on “High” for 1 to 2 minutes.
Oven: Take the leftovers from the fridge and empty them into an oven-safe baking dish or casserole dish. Use a fork to break up any clumps of rice.
Add a small splash of water, place a lid or aluminum foil over the dish and bake it at 300°F for about 20 minutes. Make sure the rice is hot and enjoy.
More Southern-style Vegan Recipes
Vegan Charleston Red Rice
Baking Recipes: For more accuracy, use Metric measurements and measuring spoons.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (400 g) Anson Mills Carolina Gold Rice, or Carolina Plantation Gold Rice or parboiled rice (see Notes)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 large (400 g) vegan sausages, sliced (I used Beyond Meat Brats – 14oz)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ tbsp light brown sugar
- 12 oz (340 g) tomato paste, (or two 6 oz cans)
- 2 ½ cups (600 ml) vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Wash the rice in a large bowl filled with water. Stir the rice in the water to release the starches then drain completely. Repeat 2 or 3 more times until the water is clear.2 cups (400 g) Anson Mills Carolina Gold Rice
- Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the vegan sausages and cook until they start to brown.2 tbsp olive oil ,4 large (400 g) vegan sausages
- Toss in the onion and continue cooking until browned.1 large onion
- Add the garlic, bell pepper, sugar, paprika and pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, then stir in the tomato paste.1 large green bell pepper ,3 cloves garlic ,1 ½ tbsp light brown sugar ,1 teaspoon smoked paprika ,½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ,12 oz (340 g) tomato paste
- Add the vegetable stock and allow it to simmer for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.2 ½ cups (600 ml) vegetable stock ,1 teaspoon salt ,½ teaspoon black pepper
- Stir in the washed and drained rice and bring to a simmer.
- Cover the pot with aluminum foil, then the lid. Place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Remove the pot from the oven and test the rice for doneness. Then allow it to rest while covered for 20 minutes. The steam will continue to cook the rice.
- Fluff the rice with a fork then serve.Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Notes
- If you don’t have an oven-safe pot, add the rice and sauce to a 9″ x 11″ casserole dish, cover it with aluminum foil and bake as redirected.
- I’ve also made the dish using long-grain rice. Although it was still tasty, it cooked to a softer consistency than Carolina Gold. I would recommend using 2 cups (120ml) of vegetable stock instead.
- This recipe was adapted from Ellen’s Homemade Delights.
- More Southern-style Vegan Recipes:
I am excited to try this dish. However, I don’t keep sugar of any form in my cabinet. Can I substitute maple syrup or molasses for the brown sugar?
Yes you can! Maple syrup would work well.
Delicious! Beyond sausage isn’t really available where I live but another vegan sausage worked just as well. Might try it with soy curls next time.
Thank you for the feedback Korbinian!
My partner and I made this today and we were both blown away by how well it turned out, it’s incredibly delicious! Unfortunately, it seems to be basically impossible to find Carolina Gold Rice where we live, so we ended up using Mahatma Paella parboiled medium grain rice. It took about 10 extra minutes in the oven for it to cook all the way through, but the end result was perfect. I was also a bit skeptical at first of the Beyond sausages in this dish, but they ended up being the star of the dish! The recipe is really quite simple, cheap, hearty, delicious, and easy to follow. You really knocked this one out of the park. Will definitely be making again in the future!
Thanks so much for the feedback Joel and for sharing your modification. I appreciate it!