I’ve had a lot of exposure to Jamaican foods. I worked at JAMWEST Caribbean foods for a while and the best part was getting to eat all the delicious food everyday and listening to Jamaican Patois that I could barely understand, and listening to stories from Chef Patrick while he cooked corn meal porridge :). It was truly amazing watching the giant pots of rice and barrels of jerked meats being cooked, and that rum cake from Miss Verona was so divine. Oh and how could I forget about the patties, and fresh juices and hiding in the walk in fridge to ‘sample’ dishes and getting locked inside hehehehe. Good times!
- 8 ounces small dried red beans or 8 ounces red kidney beans
- 1 quart water
- 16 ounces chicken broth or 16 ounces chicken stock or 16 ounces water
- 1⁄2 cup coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 scallions, finely chopped
- 1⁄2 cup white onion, chopped
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper (left whole) or you can slice it if you want lots of heat!
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 1⁄4 cups uncooked long grain rice
DIRECTIONS
- Rinse and sort beans and place in a stockpot.
- Cover with several inches of water and soak overnight,-or- bring to a boil, boil gently for 3 minutes, then remove from heat, cover, and allow to sit undisturbed for 1 hour.
- Drain and rinse beans.
- Bring to a boil with chicken stock, water, and coconut milk.
- Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 1/2-2 hours or until beans are tender and creamy.
- Add the thyme, allspice, scallion, onion, garlic, scotch bonnet, brown sugar, uncooked rice, salt and pepper.
- Check the level of liquid over the rice and make sure there is at least one inch of liquid (if not, you may add water or broth to cover).
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until rice is tender.
- Serve hot as a side dish.
- For vegetarian,use water not the chicken broth or stock.
I served the rice and peas, along side jerk pork, which is cooked pretty much the same way as jerk chicken and a tropical salsa! Put some calypso music on in the background and I felt like I was back at home 🙂
This sounds so wonderfully flavourful! Hmm, I’ve had “red beans and rice” before, which is possibly the same as “rice and peas”? Okay, I guess I am getting a bit confused!
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Oh yes this is packed with flavor and it smells divine while cooking! Red beans and rice could be similar to rice and peas depending on how its cooked and seasoned. I am glad that you’re getting confused, my mission is accomplished 😁😁😁
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Yum! My friend’s mum used to make this for us. Would love to eat it again. I’ll have to make it! 🙂 Thanks for posting this! 🙂
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You are very welcome! Let me know what you think when you make it! There’s nothing better than eating a dish filled with memories 💜😊
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True! Will let you know! 🙂 x
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Hey buddy, this looks truly divine. I need you to come over and cook me this pretty please!!!! Lol 😉😘💜💛
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One of my favorite things to eat!! So yummy ^_^
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Whatttt?!! Are you really a Jamaican living in Brooklyn?! Lol 😁
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Haha! No. But my grandparents are from Trinidad, so I’ve got some Caribbean in me. I just need to learn to master cooking the food!!
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No way!!!! You’re part Trini!? I knew I liked you for a reason! I could sense it hahhaha! What part of Trinidad are they from??!!
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Haha yes!! I am unfortunately not too familiar with that part of my heritage, but I am definitely connected through it with my food, which is why I loooove the recipes you post. I believe that my grandma is from Port of Spain.
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Ok we’ll let you keep the Trini card for now! But you must prove yourself by making curried chicken! Lol
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Okay, deal!! I’ve made it once before, so I’ll try again 😀
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I want photographic proof with a time stamp hahahhaa!!
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Wow, that plate of rice and peas, jerk pork, and salsa has my mouth watering something fierce! I’ve never had Jamaican food before, but I’ve had a strange yearning to try it lately – these recipes look like they’ll be a lot of fun to make!
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Thank you so much! If your mouth waters then I’ve succeeded hahaha The recipes are really easy to make! My favorite part besides eating it, is the smell that fills your whole house! Takes me straight back to the Caribbean every time!
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I have just nominated you for the Versatile Bloggers Award!
BTW, another Caribbean blogger friend of mine has just introduced me to Rice and Peas today! 😉
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Hello! Thanks so much for nominating me I’m really flattered, but I’ve already gotten this award 🙂 what! You have another Caribbean blogger friend!? I’m jealous! 😂😂😂
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I just started cooking the beans but I’m confused and hoping you can answer. The recipe says one quart of water, is this for soaking the beans or am I supposed to add this to the pot with the chicken stock and coconut milk? I put it in already lol hopefully that was the way you intended? I need some clarification. Thanks
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Hi there! The quart of water is for soaking and boiling the beans in. The next step is to add coconut milk with either 16oz of chicken stock or broth or water.
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