Jamaican Rice and Peas

A note to readers: Growing up in a Jamaican family, food was always a focal point. The earlier version of Jamaican Rice and Peas posted here was an inaccurate representation of a dish that is true to my culture and the many people who enjoy it. Culturally relevant recipes should be developed with thoughtful consideration of their origin. Here, I'm proud to share my mom's recipe for Jamaican rice and peas.

Jamaican rice and peas — seasoned with the special trinity of thyme, scallion, and garlic — is a staple dish of the island. Like clockwork, my mom cooked Jamaican rice and peas with a baked chicken every Sunday. Its woodsy flavor is heightened by the addition of whole pimento seeds (aka allspice berries) and its subtle heat comes from the Scotch bonnet pepper. We always had Scotch bonnet peppers in the refrigerator and my mom would cut slivers from them to add to almost everything. When used whole, the pepper lends a slightly fruity flavor without the intense heat because the seeds and flesh are not exposed. The very hot Scotch bonnet pepper can be found in farmers markets or Caribbean grocery stores, but a habanero pepper is a good substitute.

I like to use dried dark red kidney beans. They are often featured in this dish, but you can also use green pigeon peas (aka gungo peas), which are commonly used as well. The coconut milk is infused with the reddish tint of the beans, which gives the rice its signature blush.

Here's how to make Jamaican rice and peas.