Jamaican Rice and Peas Recipe - Kisses for Breakfast (2024)

FAQs

What is Jamaican rice and peas made of? ›

Rice and peas is a Jamaican side dish of coconut rice mixed with red beans, perfumed with spices, and a whisper of warmth from fresh chilli. Traditionally cooked on the stove but I find it much safer to cook in the oven as coconut milk has a tendency to catch on the base.

This practice is yet another that has its origins in slavery. Back in the 18th century, slaves only got one day off, which was Sunday. On that day, they served their best foods, one of which was our beloved rice and peas.

Excess Water and Incorrect Water Ratio: Too much water during cooking often results in mushy rice. The water ratio is critical; too much water causes the rice grains to absorb more liquid than they can handle, leading to a breakdown in their structure.

There are two ways you can make this recipe ahead. Follow the recipe all the way to the end, and let it cool completely. Then, store your peas and rice in an airtight container for up to four days in the fridge or up to three months in the freezer.

Colorful beans—such as black, red kidney, pinto, or black-eyed peas (the types most commonly cooked with rice)—are also packed with antioxidants. These compounds protect against the kind of cell damage that may lead to heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases.

“Jamaicans call it rice and peas because traditionally it was made with gungo peas. I'm not sure when we started using red beans though, but I remember growing up on gungo peas,” one woman tweeted.

If the rice grains are cooked to your liking, but there's still water in the pot, don't try to cook the water off. Instead, pour the rice into a fine-mesh strainer and, just as you would with pasta, drain the excess water and then continue with your recipe.

“In Jamaica, we use long grain rice but I found that jasmine rice has an extra flavor and it definitely enhances the flavor of the rice and peas,” Fowles says. Even though it's a more fragrant rice, you still want to make sure you wash it three to four times to remove the excess starch.

The rice and peas dish is best eaten straight away. Follow these instructions to re-use rice safely. Cool any leftovers quickly (within 1 hour), refrigerate and use within 24 hours. Reheat until piping hot or serve cold.

Is rice still good after 5 days in fridge? ›

Don't forget to label your food with the name and the date you should use it by. According to the FoodSafety.gov FoodKeeper App, leftover rice can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days, and in the freezer for one to two months.

Its a mixture of diverse cultures, spices, and foods from across the Indian Ocean and Caribbean Sea regions. Jamaican meals are popular for their use of sauces, coconut, rice, beans, and plantains as ingredients while using fish, chicken, and beef as a protein source.

Also known as the bees bush, the bright pink flowers of rice and peas bush can be see along many roadsides in Jamaica. It is popular known as "cold bush" and is highly regarded for addressing the flu and colds. It is also used to relieve period pains and muscle cramps, but its primary use is to support the lungs.

In Jamaica, we consume the popular red beans (red peas), gungo peas, cow peas, rice peas and broad beans.

Gungo Peas are a delicious Jamaican classic, completing its renowned national dish. They also contain several health benefits. Gungo Peas are a good source of protein, dietary fibre, and various vitamins: thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese.