Jamaican Rice and Peas 🇯🇲
Created By: Edie- Marie
Kitchen Tools: Utensil Set, Knives Set
Jamaican rice and peas are the perfect complement to just about every main course. All my oxtail lovers can relate. 😊 The flavored rice, and tasty beans always does the body good. Sometimes it is known as rice and beans so do not be confused when I say rice and peas. Jamaicans tend to use their own slang in the kitchen and here at Karibe we welcome it to the fullest. 😂
What makes this recipe special is that it is prepared with coconut milk. Normally everyone boils their rice with water, but being that we are Karibbeans, we had to be different. As you recreate this recipe on your own, you will notice that we have a diverse group of rich ingredients. I would argue that the coconut milk, rice and peas is a delightful combination.
Before you jump to the recipe or video and learn how to make Jamaican rice and peas, I would like to inform you that you can use alternate peas if you have a preference or create rice and pigeon peas. I will go into more detail later, but I wanted to provide the insight before you read any further. 👍
A Little History
In my research I was shocked, but not surprised that rice and peas originated from West Africa. The Akan tribe of Ghana 🇬🇭 and Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 deserves some high praise for this recipe. How beautiful is it to have African and Caribbean culture infused in one recipe? I am eager to find more African inspired recipes in the Caribbean so please share if you know of any below.
Jamaican Rice and Peas
Although Jamaican Rice and peas is popular worldwide, its main bases are the Bahamas 🇧🇸, Barbados 🇧🇧 and of course Jamaica. As a Caribbean, growing up in New Jersey I would be surprised if it was not served on my plate. You may laugh, but whenever I hang with my friends, I thought it was called Caribbean rice and peas, because everyone served it.
You should definitely try your best to master this recipe because you can eat it with everything and it is a nice partner with festival. Rice and peas with coconut milk and festival with a touch of cinnamon is simply a blessing to your taste buds. 🔥
Peas, Beans or Pigeon Peas
If you have a preference in different type of beans by all means I welcome it as the rich ingredients is what makes this recipe special. You may be a person that prefer rice and pigeon peas. There isn’t any judgement here. If you can be so kind and share in the comments your preference we would like to recreate on our own.
Caribbean Rice and Peas
As I would say, this Caribbean rice and peas is a must have for all Sunday dinners and major holidays. You may have never thought of rice and peas with coconut milk would be a favorite, but that is the beauty of recipes that represent our Kulture. I encourage you to make it alongside our brown stew chicken. Or slice up some roast beef and mix in the rice if you want to be creative. Make your Sunday dinners special. Please give this recipe an honest effort and I am confident you will be sharing with your friends and family. Share your creation by tagging @karibecompany. We would like to share your recipe on our media platforms. 😊
If you enjoyed this recipe, please check out KaribeTV to watch our Kenya Beef Pilau 🇰🇪 and other amazing recipes.
Jamaican Rice and Peas
Equipment
- 1 Knives Set
- 1 Utensil Set
Ingredients
- 2 Cans Red Kidney Beans
- 3-4 Cups Rice (I used Basmati)
- 1 Can Coconut Milk
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 1 Scallion
- 5-6 Pimento Seeds
- 1 Wiri Wiri Pepper or Scorch Bonnet (Optional)
- Thyme
- Maggi Cube
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
Instructions
- Open Canned Red Kidney Beans, drain and rinse thoroughly.
- Add the rinsed beans to your pot on medium heat. Then add enough water to cover the top of the Beans.
- Let the pot heat up a bit and then flavor your pot with Maggi cube and seasonings.
- Stir and then add in your fresh ingredients. (Garlic Cloves, Scallion, Hot Pepper, Thyme, and pimento seeds.
- Let simmer until most of the water has evaporated
- Wash your rice. This removes any extra starch. Make sure the water runs clear. That’s how you will know that the rice is thoroughly washed.
- Add washed rice into the pot with the beans.
- Then add one can of coconut milk. Stir and then cover the pot. The heat should be on medium. Allow the rice to cook for 15 minutes.
- Once the time is done, stir your rice and then add foil to the top of the pot. Cover and then turn the heat on low.
- Steam the rice for an additional 15 mins.
- Let cool and serve.