Known as “rice and peas” however it’s made with beans! This Jamaican aspect dish is a coconut rice combined with crimson beans, perfumed with spices, and a whisper of heat from contemporary chilli. Glorious accompaniment with all issues Jamaican, Caribbean and tropical. Or eat it straight out of the pot!
Welcome again to Jamaican week!
It’s Jamaican week right here on RecipeTin Eats! Every week the place I’m sharing a set of recipes so you’ll be able to get pleasure from a Jamaican-themed dinner within the consolation of your individual dwelling! Right here’s the menu:
🌴 Jamaican menu 🌴
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Most important – Jerk Fish
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Facet salad – Jamaican Slaw
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Facet – this Jamaican Coconut Rice and Peas (beans)
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Dessert – shock approaching Thursday!
Jamaican coconut rice and peas (beans!)
Rice and peas is a staple aspect dish in Jamaica and far of the Caribbean. Although referred to as rice and peas, it’s truly made with beans! The explanation this identify got here to be is as a result of Jamaicans name crimson kidney beans peas – although funnily sufficient, different types of beans are referred to as beans.
Confused?
That’s okay. All it’s essential to know is that this coconut rice is scrumptious and any day it makes an look in your dinner plate is an effective day!
What you want for Jamaican rice and peas
Bear in mind – Jamaican’s name this dish rice and peas however it’s made with crimson kidney beans, not peas. So there’s no peas in sight!!!
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Rice varieties – Lengthy grain works finest because the grains will separate finest. However it’s also possible to use basmati, jasmine and medium grain rice. Recipe will even work for sushi rice (brief grain rice) however the rice will likely be stickier (as a result of that’s the character of the rice).
Rice varieties not appropriate for this recipe – brown rice, risotto (arborio), paella or fake rice (cauliflower, quinoa).
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Pink kidney beans – Historically, dried beans are used which require in a single day soaking. I’ve opted for canned for comfort.
Different beans – Black beans additionally works and can look comparable. Different beans will work advantageous too however will make the tip dish look totally different..
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Scotch bonnet or habanero chilli – This provides a delicate trace of warmth and flavour into this dish. Genuine! However you’ll be able to skip it, should you favor not spicy.
Scotch bonnet is conventional however onerous to seek out right here in Sydney, so Habanero makes a fantastic sub (bought at Coles, Woolies, some Harris Farms) else use a big crimson cayenne pepper or 1 birds eye chilli.
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Coconut milk – Not all coconut milk is created equal! Cheaper = much less coconut %, extra water = much less coconut flavour. Goal for > 70% (I exploit Ayam which is 89%). Verify the substances label. Low fats – doesn’t have nearly as good a coconut flavour. However it should work.
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Dried thyme – A generally used dried herb in Caribbean cooking.
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All spice – For stunning heat, one other ingredient that makes an everyday look in Caribbean meals! Additionally utilized in Jerk seasoning (see Jerk Fish). Substitute with combined spice.
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Bay leaf – Earthy fragrant. Recent is finest should you can, else dried.
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Garlic and onion – Important aromatics that we sauté with butter and the spices. So good!
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Butter – You should utilize oil should you favor, however butter is best flavour!
Word on authenticity
(As a result of I acquired some very cranky messages in regards to the authenticity of this recipe!)
Historically, rice and peas is ready on the range utilizing dried beans that are soaked in a single day. I select to make use of canned beans for comfort, and I prepare dinner the rice within the oven quite than range as a result of I discover it’s the finest fuss-free, least dangerous technique to prepare dinner rice with coconut milk.
Whereas coconut rice might be efficiently and effectively cooked on the range, it does require exactness of range energy, pot and sure coconut milk portions (skinny consistency however good coconut flavour, onerous to seek out in abnormal Western grocery shops). The oven is far simpler for dwelling cooks!
Keep away from the stress. Use your oven! Belief me on this. My group and I examined coconut rice over 30 instances to excellent it for my cookbook. It’s taken nearly 8 months earlier than we might face a coconut rice recipe once more!!
The way to make Jamaican rice and peas
This recipe begins off on the range to sauté the aromatics then is completed within the oven so your coconut rice will come out superbly fluffy each single time. No extra mushy coconut rice, ever once more!
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Sauté the garlic, onion, thyme, all spice, bay leaves, scotch bonnet habanero chilli till the onion is translucent – about 3 minutes.
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Liquids – Add coconut, water, kidney beans and salt.
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Rice – As soon as it involves a simmer, add rice then give it a fast stir. When you see bubbles breaking the floor, instantly cowl then switch to oven.
Don’t have an ovenproof pot? Switch to a baking dish as soon as the liquid is simmering, cowl tightly with foil and add 5 minutes to the bake time (to provide it time to come back as much as temperature within the oven).
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Bake for 40 minutes. All of the liquid needs to be absorbed (tilt to verify) although you’ll have some coconut cream on the floor.
For those who style the rice at this stage, most grains will nonetheless have a small quantity of firmness within the center and be wetter than best. This self corrects within the subsequent step after we relaxation!
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Relaxation quarter-hour – Go away the pot on the counter with the lid on for quarter-hour. Throughout this step, the rice grains will end cooking so they’re tender throughout, and every grain of rice will soak up the liquid sitting on the floor if you first pull it out of the oven. That is what makes rice fluffy quite than ending up with a pot of mushy rice!
Often plain rice is rested for under 10 minutes. However for coconut rice, the additional 5 minutes makes all of the distinction as a result of thickness of the coconut milk which takes longer to be absorbed. For those who solely relaxation for 10 minutes, the grains will likely be barely firmer than best and the floor is stickier.
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Fluff and serve! Select the chilli and bay depart, if you’d like. Fluff with a rice paddle or rubber spatula, then tumble the rice right into a bowl and serve!
What to serve with Jamaican rice and peas (beans!)
Right now’s recipe comes as a part of a set of recipes for a Jamaican dinner menu. Jerk fish for the principle, a tangy tropical Jamaican Slaw, this rice and peas and a shock dessert approaching Thursday! See prime of submit for photograph of your Jamaican dinner plate.
As a Jamaican staple dish that’s standard throughout the Caribbean, rice and peas will likely be an ideal accompaniment with any dish from this area. However I wouldn’t cease there! Something tropical or with tropical(ish!) vibes, seafood and citrus flavours could be a becoming match. Assume – Huli Huli Hawaiian rooster, lime rooster, Lemon garlic pork chops, steak with chimichurri sauce (sure!) garlic prawns or a good looking piece of contemporary fish with crispy pores and skin completed with a easy squeeze of lemon.
So many prospects! Share your ideas for what you’d pair this Jamaican rice with! – Nagi x
Watch methods to make it
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Jamaican rice and peas
Prep: 10 minutes
Prepare dinner: 45 minutes
Resting: 15 minutes
Sides
Caribbean, Jamaican, Tropical!
Servings6
Faucet or hover to scale
Directions
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Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F (180°C fan).
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Sauté aromatics – Soften butter over medium-high warmth in a medium or massive ovenproof pot (Word 5). Prepare dinner garlic, onion, thyme, all spice, bay leaves, scotch bonnet till onion is translucent (~ 3 minutes).
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Add coconut milk, water, beans and salt. As soon as it involves a simmer, add rice then give it a fast stir. When you see bubbles breaking the floor, instantly cowl then switch to oven.
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Bake for 40 minutes. All liquid needs to be absorbed (tilt to verify) although you’ll have some coconut cream on the floor.
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Relaxation – Go away the pot on the counter with the lid on for quarter-hour. Then fluff and serve!
Recipe Notes:
Scotch bonnet is conventional however onerous to seek out right here in Sydney, so Habanero makes a fantastic sub (bought at Coles, Woolies, some Harris Farms) else use a big crimson cayenne pepper or 1 birds eye chilli.
2. Beans – Black beans additionally works and can look comparable. Different beans will work advantageous too.
3. Coconut milk – Not all coconut milk is created equal! Cheaper = much less coconut %, extra water = much less coconut flavour. Goal for > 70% (I exploit Ayam which is 89%). Verify the substances label.
Low fats – doesn’t have nearly as good a coconut flavour. However it should work.
4. Rice varieties – Lengthy grain works finest because the grains will separate finest. However it’s also possible to use basmati, jasmine and medium grain rice. Recipe will work for sushi rice (brief grain rice) however the rice will likely be stickier (as a result of that’s the character of the rice). Recipe not appropriate for brown rice, risotto (arborio), paella or fake rice (cauliflower, quinoa).
5. Cooking vessel – I exploit my 26cm / 10.5″ dutch oven. No oven proof pot? As soon as the liquid with the rice and beans in it comes again as much as a simmer, pour all the things right into a baking dish. Cowl tightly with foil and add 5 minutes to the bake time (to permit for the temperature to come back again up within the oven).
5. STORAGE: Rice will maintain for two days within the fridge or freezer for 3 months.
Vitamin per serving, assuming 6 servings.
Lifetime of Dozer
It’s Jamaican week. You already know this needed to occur…. I’m so predictable! 😂
