If you think of Caribbean food it’s likely that Rice and Peas will spring to mind because it seems to be a staple “dish” that is usually served with other “dishes” like Jerk Chicken or Goat Curry. It is very much a freestyle dish but the main 2 ingredients are Rice and Peas! Other ingredients are Coconut Milk, Onions and Allspice (Pimento) and usually Scotch Bonnet Chilli. It seems that it originated in/on the West Coast of Africa and the Peas were originally Pigeon / Gungo peas but most recipes now use Red Kidney Beans. If you go back to the origin, the Peas would likely have been any available legume.
Rice and peas origins
Jamaican Rice and Peas authentic
A very easy recipe for Rice and Peas is here it captures the essence of the recipe and is very nice, not too spicy.
A bit more effort needed recipe can be found here and it seems to be more authentic.
There are lots of recipes to be found by trawling the Web. Some are very very hot and spicy and some are just nice and tangy
I tend to lean toward the easy recipe from the BBC but use red onion instead of spring onion (scallions) and use Allspice from Schwartz so it might not be spicy enough for some. Scotch Bonnets give it the heat / spiciness.
Note about Rice.
You can use any rice that you favour. Some use Basmati or Jasmine rice. Some use short grained (pudding / risotto) rice. I use ordinary long grain rice, the quick cook supermarket stuff. I put 1 volume of rice and 2.5 volumes of water in a pan, bring to the boil with lid on and then reduce the heat to minimum and leave for 15 minutes. The rice has then absorbed all the water and is nice and fluffy. Everyone has their own way of cooking rice but Rice and Peas adds Coconut Milk so getting the “water / rice ratio” right can be difficult.
By all means rinse the rice before cooking but don’t leave it to soak because it will absorb the water. You need the rice dry so that it will absorb the coconut milk (and added water) while cooking and result in rice that isn’t a sloppy mess but also not too dry.
Rice and Peas is one of those basic low cost meals on the same lines as the Italian “Cucina Povera” (the kitchen of the poor) where basic simple ingredients are cooked to give taste and nutrition and fill the belly.
You need
- Rice – of your choosing.
- Coconut milk
- Legumes of choice (Peas, red or white (cannellini) beans, broad beans etc
- Herbs and / or Spices (Chili’s – Scotch Bonnet)
- Onion – Spring (scallion), Red, White etc.
- Garlic to suit
Experiment, find a combination that works for you and make it your own but try to pay homage to the original dish.It is quite likely that “Rice and Peas” is one of those “family recipes” that is handed down and different families have modified the original recipe to suit their own taste so you will find various recipes. Don’t be a slave to recipes, have a look at few to get a feel and then have a go. The ingredients are cheap so it won’t really matter if your first few attempts end up feeding the bin. Put a bit of Reggae music on (Bob Marley, Eddie Grant etc) relax and go with the flow.
Serve with something like Jerk Chicken or other meat or maybe Goat Curry. I find getting the rice right is the most challenging but practice makes perfect, apparently 🙂 Some people like the “sticky rice” but I don’t like the texture.
Enjoy.