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Guyanese Cook-up Rice

The Quirky Foodster Team

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Ingredients

  • 400g (2 cups) long-grain rice, rinsed
  • 200g (1 cup) pigeon peas (gungo peas), soaked or canned
  • 400ml (1 1/2 cups) coconut milk
  • 400ml (1 1/2 cups) water or stock
  • 300g (10 oz) stewed beef or chicken, bone-in, cut into pieces
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 1 wiri wiri pepper, whole (for aromatic heat, remove before serving)
  • 15ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil
  • 5g (1 tsp) salt, or to taste
  • 2g (1/2 tsp) black pepper

Method

  1. Heat oil in a large pot and brown the meat pieces on all sides, about 8 minutes.
  2. Add onion and garlic, sauté until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in pigeon peas, coconut milk, water, thyme and whole pepper. Bring to a boil.
  4. Add rinsed rice, salt and pepper. Stir once, reduce heat to low, cover tightly.
  5. Simmer undisturbed for 25 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid absorbed.
  6. Remove whole pepper, fluff rice gently with a fork before serving.

Introduction: Cook-up rice is Guyana's iconic one-pot dish, born from Afro-Guyanese cooking traditions where rice, pigeon peas, coconut milk and meat are simmered together.

Cultural Background: Cook-up rice is Guyana's iconic one-pot dish, born from Afro-Guyanese cooking traditions where rice, pigeon peas, coconut milk and meat are simmered together. It is especially associated with weekend lunches and Old Year's Night (New Year's Eve).

Tips: Do not lift the lid during simmering — trapped steam is essential for even cooking. Using coconut milk from a can (not light) gives the richest, most authentic flavour.

Variations: Make a vegetarian version using kidney beans and vegetable stock instead of meat. Add diced salted meat or pig tail for a deeper, traditional flavour.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days; freezes well for up to 2 months.

Reheating: Reheat with a splash of water in a covered pot over low heat, or microwave covered for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway.

Nutrition: Approx. 520 kcal, 24g protein, 58g carbohydrate, 22g fat per serving.

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