Step-by-Step Guide to Making Jamaican Rice and Peas with Coconut
Jamaican Rice and Peas is a classic dish that is loved all over the world for its rich flavor and tropical vibes. Despite the name, this dish isn’t made with green peas—“peas” in Jamaica refers to beans like kidney beans or pigeon peas. This fragrant dish is cooked with coconut milk, spices, and herbs, making it the perfect pairing for your favorite Caribbean meals like jerk chicken or curry goat. Wondering how to make it at home? Don’t worry! In this blog, we’ll break it all down into easy steps.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, let’s gather all the ingredients. These are simple and easy to find!
Ingredients:
- Rice (2 cups): White long-grain rice works best, but you can use basmati or jasmine, too.
- Red kidney beans (1 cup): Or pigeon peas (You can use canned beans or dried beans – more on this later).
- Coconut milk (1 can or 2 cups): This is the key to the creamy, tropical flavor.
- Water (2 cups): For cooking the rice and keeping the beans soft.
- Scallion (2-3 stems): Finely chopped.
- Thyme (2-3 sprigs): Fresh or dried.
- Garlic (2 cloves): Minced.
- Onion (1 small onion): Finely chopped.
- Salt (to taste): This enhances all the flavors.
- Black pepper (to taste): Adds a bit of spice.
- Whole Scotch bonnet pepper (optional): For a little kick, but don’t cut it open unless you love really spicy food!
- Oil or butter (1 tablespoon): For extra richness and flavor.
If you’re using dried beans, soak them overnight and boil them before starting (more details below).
Step-by-Step Directions
Now that you’ve got all the ingredients ready, let’s move on to cooking Jamaican Rice and Peas step by step.
Step 1: Prepare the Beans
If you’re using canned beans, this part is easy—just drain and rinse them, and they’re ready to go.
For dried beans, soak them overnight in a large bowl of water. The next day, drain the water. Boil the beans in fresh water with a little salt until they are tender. This can take about 1-2 hours. Once the beans are soft, drain them and keep aside.
Step 2: Gather Your Pot
Choose a large pot with a lid. You’ll cook everything in one pot, so make sure there’s enough room for both the rice and beans.
Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics
Heat your pot over medium heat and add butter or oil. Toss in the chopped scallion, onion, garlic, and thyme. Stir everything for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. This creates a tasty base for the dish.
Step 4: Add the Beans and Coconut Milk
Now, add your beans to the pot, followed by the coconut milk and two cups of water. Stir everything together. The coconut milk will infuse the dish with a creamy, rich flavor that makes it special.
Step 5: Season the Pot
Season the pot with salt and black pepper. Place the whole Scotch bonnet pepper into the pot if you’re using it—but don’t cut it open unless you really like spicy food! If you cut the pepper, the dish will be much hotter.
Step 6: Add the Rice
Wash your rice thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch. This prevents the rice from becoming sticky. Once the rice is clean, add it to the pot with the beans and coconut milk.
Step 7: Cover and Simmer
Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pot tightly with a lid. Let everything cook for about 20-25 minutes. Check every 10 minutes to make sure there’s enough liquid in the pot to cook the rice. If the rice starts to look dry before it’s tender, add a splash of hot water.
Step 8: Fluff and Serve
Once the rice is tender and fully cooked, remove the pot from the heat. Take out the Scotch bonnet pepper (don’t eat it!). Use a fork to fluff the rice gently. Your Jamaican Rice and Peas are now ready to serve!
Tips for Success
- Start slow with Scotch bonnet peppers: If you love spicy food, you can play around with the pepper, but leaving it whole ensures the dish isn’t overwhelmingly spicy.
- Don’t rush the cooking: Cooking the rice slowly helps it absorb all the flavors from the beans, coconut milk, and spices.
- Pair it with a main dish: Jamaican Rice and Peas go perfectly with jerk chicken, fried plantains, or even steamed fish.
Conclusion
Making Jamaican Rice and Peas isn’t hard once you break it down into simple steps. The combination of creamy coconut milk, hearty beans, and fragrant herbs and spices creates a dish that’s packed with flavor and tradition. Whether you’re serving this at a family dinner or a Saturday barbecue, it’s sure to impress.
Try this recipe today and bring the taste of Jamaica into your kitchen! Let us know how it turns out—share your stories in the comments below!
