Serves: 8
Total Calories: 314

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 strips bacon, cut into 1/4-inch slivers
1 onion, medium, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, medium, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 basil leaves, fresh, thinly slivered, or 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon thyme, fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried
2 1/2 teaspoons salt, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or more to taste
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon sugar
5 1/2 cups water, or more as needed
3 cups white rice, long-grain
1 tablespoon lime juice, fresh
2 cups peas, pigeon, cooked, black-eyed peas, or kidney beans

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, basil, thyme, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook until the onion is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and sugar and cook about 2 minutes more.

2. Add 5 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Stir in the rice and lime juice and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot tightly. Cook until the rice is tender, about 18 minutes, but check after 15 minutes: If the rice is too wet, set the cover ajar to allow some of the liquid to evaporate if too dry, add 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Stir in the pigeon peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Remove the pot from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Just before serving, fluff the peas and rice with fork and correct the seasoning, adding more salt or black pepper as needed.

Serves 8

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 8
Total Calories: 314
Calories from Fat: 33

More Recipes from the The Barbecue Bible Cookbook:
Bahamian Peas and Rice
Balinese Yellow Rice / Nasi Kuning
Brazilian Black Beans With Bacon / Tutu Mineira
Crazy Rice / Arroz Loco
Grilled Grits
Grilled Polenta
Grilled Rice Cakes
Grilled Yorkshire Pudding
Indian "Baked Beans" / Dal Bukhara
Indian-Style Basmati Rice
Japanese Steamed Rice
Jasmine Rice
Persian Rice With Cranberries
Persian Rice With a Golden Crust / Chelow
Persian-Style Steamed Rice
Quick And Smoky Baked Beans
Quick-Cook Basmati Rice
Rainbow Manioc / Farofa