Rice is the grain used to make the traditional Southern soul food side dish rice dressing.
Rice dressing is prepared by combining cooked rice with a seasoned mixture that commonly includes ground meat, onion, celery, bell pepper, and herbs. In Louisiana and parts of the Gulf South, chicken livers or gizzards may be included, giving the dish a deeper flavor and darker appearance.
The name can be confusing because rice dressing is related to dirty rice but is not always identical. Dirty rice traditionally gets much of its color from chopped poultry giblets, whereas rice dressing is a broader preparation with regional variations.
Rice dressing is served as a side dish with poultry, seafood, or holiday meals. It also differs from jambalaya: jambalaya is generally cooked as a unified rice dish with its meat and vegetables, while dressing may combine cooked rice with a separately prepared seasoned mixture.