This dish of pigeon peas and rice was the perfect accompaniment to the Crispy Lemon Chicken that I made earlier this year. The rice and peas are cooked together in a rich combination of fresh thyme and coconut milk with wedges of tomatoes and (if desired) a scotch bonnet pepper. The final result is quite similar to the scent and flavour of Jamaican peas and rice, a sentimental fave of mine, and should be a little less daunting in execution especially for new cooks.
Sarina’s Pigeon Peas and Rice
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups rice
salt to taste
1 tablespoon margarine
2 cups pigeon peas
1 large tomato
4 cups coconut milk
4 stalks dried spanish thyme
METHOD:
1. Boil peas with thyme for 20 minutes in the coconut milk
2. Sprinkle in rice and crushed tomato
3. Add butter
4. Cover saucepan and boil over moderate heat at first, then allow to steam over low heat until all the water is absorbed and the grains are soft
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This post was originally published February 5, 2009. It has been updated once since then.
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About Sarina
Passionate foodie, founder of Trinigourmet and Caribbean Lifestyle Maven. Author of "Glam By Request: 30+ Easy Caribbean Recipes"
This month marks the third installment of my “CookALong” series where a prominent (usually) Caribbean personality follows one of my recipes, and sometimes throws in a few of their own This week however I’m shaking things up a bit by ...
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Sarina,
This looks great and I love Pigeon Peas.
I am sure other peas can be substituted.
Your pictures are amazing!
Ant
VA, USA
ps…love the new layout and background.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Thanks Ant
Yes you can use lentils and/or red kidney beans with great effect 
I’m sure other beans would be awesome as well.
Sarina,
This looks great and I love Pigeon Peas.
I am sure other peas can be substituted.
Your pictures are amazing!
Ant
VA, USA
ps…love the new layout and background.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Thanks Ant
Yes you can use lentils and/or red kidney beans with great effect 
I’m sure other beans would be awesome as well.
Is raining here – bwoy dat look good, Sarina!
Is raining here – bwoy dat look good, Sarina!
I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t know what a pigeon pea is!
pam’s last blog post..Red-Curry Roasted Salmon with Green Beans, Red Bell Pepper, Mint, and Basil
Hey Pam
here’s Wikipedia’s entry on them 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_pea maybe you know it by one of its other names, they are really yummy! 
I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t know what a pigeon pea is!
pam’s last blog post..Red-Curry Roasted Salmon with Green Beans, Red Bell Pepper, Mint, and Basil
Hey Pam
here’s Wikipedia’s entry on them 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_pea maybe you know it by one of its other names, they are really yummy! 
That is an excellent photo. It looks very professional.
That is an excellent photo. It looks very professional.
Do you use canned pigeon peas or dry pigeon peas?
Hi Sinthia, I usually use caned for speed but dry pigeon peas, soaked and pressure cooked are even better
Do you use canned pigeon peas or dry pigeon peas?
Hi Sinthia, I usually use caned for speed but dry pigeon peas, soaked and pressure cooked are even better
This looks fantastic! I had a bag of pigeon peas from Trinidad and just needed a recipe to make this dish. Lots of coconuts there too, so I wanted to replicate the Trini dish. It turned out fabulous with a little cayenne added for heat!
This looks fantastic! I had a bag of pigeon peas from Trinidad and just needed a recipe to make this dish. Lots of coconuts there too, so I wanted to replicate the Trini dish. It turned out fabulous with a little cayenne added for heat!
Goddess of food!
Here I was just looking for something to substitute pigeon peas for in meh Pelau, and google brings me to YOU! Great receipes here, I think I’ll try them all!
Much love from Canada!
Goddess of food!
Here I was just looking for something to substitute pigeon peas for in meh Pelau, and google brings me to YOU! Great receipes here, I think I’ll try them all!
Much love from Canada!