I would like to say that with what the world is experiencing right now, every day should be a gratitude day. So, I’m beyond thankful for this gift of life and my beloved family by my side. And while I’ve been daydreaming about my next Caribbean trip, a tropical food trip in my kitchen, starting with this rice and beans recipe, will have to do. Or if you’re into Jamaican food, it’s rice and peas. 😍

Recipe Ingredients 

How to Make Caribbean Rice and Beans

Wash rice until water runs clear. Drain water. Sautee Aromatics – Heat a saucepan with oil. Then add onions, garlic, thyme, and hot pepper, and sauté for about a minute. (Photos 1-2) Simmer – Stir the rice into the pan, then the beans, and cook for about 2 minutes. Then add coconut milk, bay leaf, bouillon powder, Creole spice, and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until rice is cooked (about 20 minutes). (Photos 3-4)Note: Stir occasionally to prevent burning, adding water as needed. Serve – Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Discard bay leaves. Serve warm and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Tips and Tricks

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Cool the rice and beans after cooking and freeze them in meal-size portions in airtight containers for 2-3 months. It will last in the fridge for 3-4 days—the same works for leftovers. Thaw frozen rice and beans in the refrigerator overnight. Then simmer (stirring occasionally) in a pot until it bubbles. Add water or broth as needed to keep it from burning—a microwave works, too.

What to Serve With Caribbean Rice and Beans

It’s traditionally served with chicken, beef, or pork. It goes excellent with brown stew chicken, Jamaican curry goat, or jerk chicken. Fried sweet plantain and Caribbean coleslaw are wonderful sides.

Conclusion

This Caribbean rice and beans recipe takes rice to a whole new level. Would you like more African-based recipes? Then follow me on Facebook for more! ❤️

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”m8wdXU8u” upload-date=”2018-08-06T19:52:04.000Z” name=”Caribbean Rice and Beans” description=”Caribbean Rice and red Beans- Seasoned with  garlic, onions and creole spice. Infused with bay leaves, thyme, Scotch bonnet and coconut milk.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in February 2014 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.

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