Jamaican Gungo Peas and Rice

Jamaican Gungo Peas and Rice is a popular side dish of savoury pigeon peas and fluffy rice, infused with island herbs, spices and creamy coconut milk. This well-seasoned Caribbean staple is cooked to perfection so it's the perfect side to favourites like Jamaican Oxtail, Curry Goat, and Jerk Chicken.

Prep Time10

Cook Time1

Soak Beans8

Total Time1 10

Course: Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian

Cuisine: Jamaican

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Servings: servings

Author: Taneisha Morris

Equipment

1 Medium Pot

Ingredients

2 cups Uncooked Parboiled Rice rinsed and drained
300g Green Gungo (Pigeon) Peas
3 cups Water plus more/less as needed to soften gungo peas
2 cloves Garlic crushed
1/2-inch pc. Fresh Ginger
1 whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper
1 stalk Escallion or green onion, crushed
3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
5 whole Pimento Berries allspice berries
1 whole Vegetable Bouillon Cube
1 cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk
1/2 tsp Seasoning Salt or salt, more or less to taste, optional
1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

Add water to a medium sized pot and bring to a rapid boil over medium high heat. Rinse and drain green gungo (pigeon) peas, then add to pot along with garlic, ginger, scotch bonnet pepper, scallion and thyme.
When peas near tender, stir in coconut milk, vegetable bouillon and season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow coconut infused peas mixture to come to a boil approx. 5-6 minutes.
Add rinsed rice (when peas tender), stir, cover and let simmer over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes or until liquid has mostly absorbed then adjust the heat to low and allow the rice to continue cooking until rice near tender.
Remove from the heat and let steam for 10 minutes, then discard the thyme sprigs, ginger, escallion, pimento seeds and scotch bonnet, if desired. Using a fork, fluff the rice and peas. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

If Using Dried Gungo "Pigeon" Peas - soak your peas overnight, or for a few hours then boil in water with herbs and spices until tender. The longer you soak your dried peas, the less amount of time it will need to boil (cook) until tender. Adjust the cooking time accordingly. Once peas become tender, proceed to the next step (step 2).

Nutrition