Jamaica
Jamaican Rice and Peas
Rice and Peas
Rice cooked in coconut milk with red kidney beans, thyme, scallion and a whole Scotch bonnet. Sunday dinner in Jamaica is not Sunday without it.
- Prep 10 min
- Cook 35 min
- Serves 6
- Level Easy
You need
- 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, with their liquid
- 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
- 1½ cups water (about)
- 2 cups long-grain rice, rinsed
- 2 scallions, crushed
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 pimento (allspice) berries
- 1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp butter
How to make it
- Build the liquid. Put the beans with their liquid, coconut milk and enough water to make 4 cups total into a heavy pot. Add the scallions, garlic, thyme, pimento and salt and bring to a boil.
- Add the rice. Stir in the rice and butter, then lay the whole Scotch bonnet on top. Do not let it burst or the pot will be fiery.
- Steam. When it boils again, cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 20–25 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff. Remove the pepper, thyme stems and scallion, fluff with a fork and serve.
Photo: Xaymacan · CC BY-SA 4.0