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Jamaican Rice & Peas

 

Rice & Peas, or Rice & Kidney beans as foreigners might want to call it, is a popular rice recipe in Jamaica. It's not very expensive but does make your rice taste a little bit more interesting, which is why the Jamaicans love it so much. I got told that one must always serve rice and peas on Sunday. If you would serve white rice on Sunday, people would think you’re lazy.

I have tried this recipe myself a couple of times already when I got back home, and I truly love it! It is not exactly the same as the Rice & Peas I had in Jamaica, because I used a different kind of rice and my seasoning was a little bit different, but it's almost just as good and definitely worth to give it a try!

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (19oz) Kidney beans, including liquid

  • 1 can (14 oz) Coconut milk

  • Water (approx 1-2/3 cups)

  • 2 cloves Garlic, chopped

  • 1 Small onion or 2 stalks scallion, chopped

  • 1 tsp Dried thyme

  • Black pepper & Salt to taste

  • 2  cups Long grain rice (white rice will do too)

 

Method:

1. Drain the liquid from the can of beans into a measuring cup and
add the can of coconut milk and enough water to make four cups of liquid
2. Add liquid, beans, garlic, chopped onion and thyme to large pot
3. Add salt and black pepper.  Bring to a boil.
4. Add rice and boil on High for 2 minutes.
5. Turn heat to Low, and cook covered until all water is absorbed (about 15 to 20 min).
6. Fluff with fork before serving.

 

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Jamaican Pumpkin Rice 

I have not had the chance to try this rice dish myself, but I was told that Pumpkin Rice is a really quick, easy and tasty rice dish to make, which is why I would like to share it with you. 

You could make this dish a little flavour to this dish, you could add some saltfish to it. This will make a relatively affordable dish which can be made during every time of the day and during every season of the year. It is said that pumpkin rice with saltfish is usually prepared on a "lazy day". So whenever you don't feel like cooking a complicated meal, check out this Pumpkin & Rice recipe and have yourself an easy but tasteful dish.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2    cups uncooked white rice

  • 3½  cups water

  • 2-3 tbsp butter or margarine

  • ½   lb saltfish (Cod fish)

  • ½   lb diced pumpkin

  • 2    tsp. Vegetable oil or Olive oil

  • 1    med onion (chopped)

  • 1    sprig thyme

  • 2   stalk scallions, chopped

  • 1   Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Optional)

  • Salt and Black pepper to taste (optional)

 

Method:

1. Soak saltfish (codfish) for about 6 hours (if you have the time) or just boil for 20 minutes to remove most of the salt.
2. Drain the water and remove the saltfish (codfish) and place in a dish.
3. "Pick up" (break into small pieces and remove the bones) the saltfish (codfish) and set aside.
4. Peel the pumpkin, dice it and add it to the water and boil for about 10 minutes.
5. Add vegetable oil while boiling.
6. Cook until pumpkin is fully cooked, that is, soft or easily mashed with a fork.
7. Add rice and all the other ingredients except the scotch bonnet pepper to the pot.
8. Stir while cooking to distribute the rich orange colour of the pumpkin.
9. Add the whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper after about 20 minutes on top of the rice. 
10. Steam for about 25-30 more minutes or until done.
11. Taste to ensure that the rice is seasoned and properly cooked.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Jamaican Cook-up rice

The term "Cook-up" is a Caribbean expression that refers to a dish that incorporates the ingredients you have on-hand in the kitchen. It's a quick and easy to make dish, perfect for when you still have some vegetables left from the other day. 

 

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz Salted cod fish

  • 2 Tbsp  Cooking oil

  • 8 oz Bacon, chopped

  • 1 med Onion chopped

  • ¼ each Red and Green bell pepper, chopped

  • 2 cups Jamaican pumpkin or butternut squash, cut in small chunks

  • 2 cups Cabbage, chopped

  • 2 cups  Hot water

  • 1 tsp Hot pepper sauce

  • 1 Tbsp Ketchup

  • Black pepper

  • Salt

  • 2 cups  Long-Grain Rice

 

Method:

  1. Soak salted cod for 4 hours in cold water to remove some of the salt. Drain and break or cut into small pieces; set aside

  2. Heat oil in saucepan

  3. Add bacon to pan and fry until lightly crisp; remove from pan and  set aside

  4. Add onion,  tomato, and  red and green bell peppers and stir fry for 1 min

  5. Add pumpkin, cabbage and stir

  6. Add hot water, bacon, salted cod, hot pepper sauce and ketchup; stir and season to taste with pepper and salt

  7. Add rice  and stir gently; bring everything to a boil then lower heat to minimum; cover and steam until rice is cooked. Note: A bit more water maybe needed depending on the rice used.

  8. When rice is cooked fluff with fork and serve

 

Makes 4 to 6 servings

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