Description
Southern comfort meets coastal Carolina charm in this hearty shrimp perloo. Savory rice, tender shrimp, and smoky sausage blend into a one-pot wonder that brings Charleston’s culinary magic straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb shrimp (deveined, tails off)
- 4 slices bacon
Vegetables:
- ½ cup diced bell pepper
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced carrot
- ⅓ cup diced celery
- 1 cup corn
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 bay leaf
- Sea or kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 1 cup salsa
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1¼ cups Minute rice
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- Smoked paprika or chili powder (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Render bacon in a large skillet until golden and crisp, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
- Reserving of bacon drippings, wipe the skillet clean and prepare for vegetable sautéing.
- Drizzle olive oil into the skillet and introduce diced bell pepper, onion, carrot, and celery. Add bay leaf, then season with a delicate pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently, until vegetables become tender and fragrant, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Incorporate sweet corn kernels, zesty salsa, and rich chicken broth into the vegetable mixture. Enhance with an additional salt and black pepper. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, then cover and allow to cook for 10 minutes.
- Gently fold in long-grain rice and chopped fresh parsley. Reduce heat, cover, and continue cooking for 7-9 minutes until rice absorbs the liquid and becomes perfectly tender.
- Arrange raw shrimp atop the rice in a single layer. Dust with smoky paprika or mild chili powder, then season with an extra sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cover and steam for 6-8 minutes until shrimp curl and turn opaque.
- Extract and discard the bay leaf. Crumble reserved bacon over the perloo, creating a crispy garnish before serving hot.
Notes
- Bacon’s crispy texture adds a smoky punch of flavor, creating a delightful crunch throughout the dish.
- Vegetables sautéed in bacon grease develop a rich, deep flavor profile that elevates the entire perloo.
- Corn and salsa bring unexpected brightness and zesty notes to this Southern-inspired one-pot wonder.
- Shrimp cook quickly and delicately, transforming from translucent to perfectly opaque in just minutes.
- Smoked paprika or chili powder provides a subtle heat that complements the seafood and vegetables beautifully.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 140mg