As I travel around the world I always ask the locals a simple question, what’s your favorite local dish, a simple question that brings joy when asked. Over the summer my family and I vacationed to the beautiful Bahamas and the inspiration for today’s post came from several Bahamian’s that we met. When I asked the Bahamian’s what their favorite dish is, over eighty percent said it was brown rice and peas. Brown rice and peas can be made so many ways but what the natives all said is that it starts with brown rice and peas and you could add whatever ingredients you have in the house, some add a variety of beans, tomatoes, spices, oils, the sky is the limit.
I thought it would be best to start with a simple foundation and make a simple Bahamian brown rice and peas dish and let my family add their own additional ingredients after it was prepared. Rice and legumes seem to be a common staple throughout the world and can be inexpensive when feeding a family. Pigeon peas are a great source of protein, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, and other essential vitamins and nutrients like B-6. So, if you want to bring a taste of the Bahamas to your house make this simple dish and feel free to add other ingredients at the end.
Buen Provecho!
Bahamian Brown Rice & Peas
Printable Version
Yield: Serves 4 Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
-1 Cup of Brown Rice
-1 Can of Pigeon Peas or Freshly
Cooked Pigeon Peas
-2 ½ Cups of Water
-1 Yellow Onion
-2-3 Garlic
-Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
-Cumin
-Cayenne
-Cilantro to garnish
Equipment Needed:
-Measuring Spoon
-Measuring Cup
-Fine Strainer
-Boiling Pan
-Blender
-Serving Dishes
Prep & Directions:
-Get your bag of brown rice, I used Jasmine brown rice, and pour 1 cup of brown rice
over a fine strainer and rinse with cold water to remove any residue and drain
-Get a boiling pan and put it on the stove and turn the gas/electric knob to a high
setting
-Get your blender and put 2-3 pieces of peeled garlic and 1 yellow onion along with ½
cup of water and then blend until liquefied
-Get your measuring cup and get 2 cups of water and pour water into the boiling pan
-Then add the liquefied garlic and onion from the blender into the boiling pan
-Add the brown rice into the boiling pan and then reduce to simmer, ensuring to cover
the boiling pan with a lid, this should take about 15 minutes, and once it’s cooked it
will feel soft but not soggy
-After the brown rice is cooked, set it aside and let it cool down, then add ½
tablespoon of pink Himalayan sea salt, ½ tablespoon of cumin and a pinch of
cayenne and mix with a wooden spoon and set aside
-Get a can opener and open the can of pigeon peas and drain
-Then pour the drained pigeon peas into the rice
-Get your plate and with a spoon get your Bahamian Brown Rice and Peas and pour
into the bowl and garnish with cilantro
-Store the remaining Bahamian Brown Rice & Peas in a glass container and wait for it
to cool down before refrigerating
*****Feel free to add more ingredients and season to suit your taste buds*****