Charleston Red Rice

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

Bring the rice, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan.

Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.

While the rice is cooking, cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes.

Reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the pan.

Reduce heat to medium.

Drain the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels; crumble the bacon once cooled enough to handle.

Cook and stir the onions in the reserved bacon drippings until translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.

Stir in the crumbled bacon, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce; bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Spoon the cooked rice into the prepared baking dish and stir the tomato-bacon mixture into the rice until evenly combined.

Cover the dish and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.