Jamaican Cuisine: How to Cook Rice and Peas

kidney beans

🥗Healthier: black beans

💰Cheaper: pinto beans

Pinto beans are often less expensive and widely available.

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: light coconut milk

💰Cheaper: milk

Light coconut milk reduces calories, while milk is a budget-friendly alternative.

Wash the red kidney beans three times to ensure they are clean.

Fill a pot with warm water and add the washed kidney beans.

Turn on the stove and cover the pot to boil the kidney beans until soft, about 1 hour.

After boiling, let the kidney beans sit overnight to become tender.

The next day, take the coconut milk and mix it with about 150 ml of water.

Add the coconut milk mixture to the cooked kidney beans in the pot and stir.

Add scallion, thyme, and a whole scotch bonnet pepper to the pot without cutting it.

Add a generous amount of salt to taste and stir the mixture.

Let the mixture boil for a little while before adding the rice.

Wash the brown rice three times to remove excess starch.

Add the washed rice to the pot and stir it in with the other ingredients.

Cover the pot and lower the heat to allow the rice to steam and cook through.

After about 50 minutes, check the rice and let it cook for an additional 8 minutes until all the water is absorbed.

Once finished, the rice and peas should look reddish or pinkish and be ready to serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary