This recipe is a flavorful combination of bacon, onions, rice, tomatoes, pimentos, shrimp, and oysters, cooked together to create a delicious pilau dish. The addition of shrimp and oysters adds a delightful seafood element to the pilau, bringing a taste of the ocean to the dish. The combination of ingredients and flavors creates a satisfying and hearty meal that is perfect for seafood lovers. Whether enjoyed as a main course or as a side dish, this pilau recipe is sure to impress with its combination of flavors and textures. It is a delightful dish that captures the essence of a seafood-infused Southern cuisine.
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 slices bacon, cut into pieces
- 3 medium onions, chopped
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped
- One 4-ounce jar pimentos, drained and chopped
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 pound medium fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 1 pint fresh oysters (liquor included)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a large, heavy pot, fry the bacon over moderate heat till crisp, drain on paper towels, and set aside. Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons of fat from the pot, add the onions, and cook, stirring, till just softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the rice and stir till the grains glisten with fat. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, pimentos, Worcestershire, nutmeg, bay leaf, salt and pepper, and cayenne pepper and stir. Bring to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes. Add the shrimp, oysters, and reserved bacon and toss well.
- Return to a simmer, cover, and cook till most of the liquid has been absorbed, the shrimp are pink, and the oysters curled, about 8 minutes. Fluff the pilau with a fork and serve hot.
