Jamaican Rice and Peas

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Small Red Beans
7 cups Water
1/2 cup Rich Coconut Milk OR one 2" x 3" piece of Frozen Coconut Cream

5 cups Jasmine Rice

Small handful Whole Garlic cloves

6  Scallions, Whole
1 Onion, sliced

1 bunch Thyme

1/2 a Green Pepper, sliced
1 1/2 Tablespoon Salt

1 1/2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

4-5 Whole Allspice Balls
2 1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Kitchen Supplies and Utensils


Large Pot
Chopping Board
Knife
Large Spoon
Measuring Cup Set
Measuring Spoon Set


Way to go...

1. Soak beans in a good amount of water {use your judgment :) } for 4-6 hours.
2. Strain beans but save the soaking water because this is what gives your rice and peas a good, healthy color.
3. Measure the amount of bean water you have, and if needed and more water to make the total equal 7 cups.
4. Place beans, measured water, and coconut to the large pot and bring to a low boil.
5. Cook beans until tender but not fully cooked; you want the beans to be almost cooked not not yet cooked, because they will continue to cook after the rice is added. If your beans are fully cooked, it will make the rice mushy - not good {really bad ;/ }
6. I like to mix the rice and seasonings in a large bowl, and lay the green peppers, onions, green onions,  and thyme on top of the rice while the beans are cooking to save time and energy.
7. Add the rice, seasonings, and veggies to the beans, stir to bring up the beans or else they will sink to the bottom of the pot. Immediately cover and turn heat down to low.
8. Simmer for 1-2 hours until rice is cooked. Note: Do not stir the rice again, or the starch being released from the rice will make is mushy; also do not open the pot ore than once or twice because the water to rice ration is very low in this recipe and it can dry out; it is that way so that the rice and beans will cook to perfection at the same time and they both will be dry. The process may seem complicated, but once you get the hang of it, you'l know exactly what to do!

As always, enjoy!

1. 

   This is your red bean water

Adding the beans and coconut cream to the large pot.

Placing the garlic cloves in the simmering beans.

Pouring in sliced green peppers, rice, and seasonings.

All ingredients added, waiting for it to cook!