Why Jamaican Rice and Peas Uses Kidney Beans

Ask most people in Britain what goes in "rice and peas" and they will say green peas. Ask anyone in Jamaica and the answer is different: the "peas" are kidney beans. It trips people up every time, and it is the first thing Mac points out when he cooks it.

Why does Jamaican rice and peas use kidney beans?

In Jamaican cooking, "peas" is the everyday word for beans and pulses, and the bean most often used in the dish is the red kidney bean, sometimes called a red pea. Round red beans are used in the same way. The name "rice and peas" is said to have been first used by Jamaicans for this dish, and it stuck, even though no green peas are involved.

Here is how Mac put it while the pot was on:

"Everybody expects peas in it, like British peas, but in the Caribbean, Jamaica, peas are kidney beans. So if you wanna do it properly, it's kidney beans."

And if kidney beans are not your thing, he is relaxed about it:

"If you wanna do the English version, feel free to use peas if you're not that keen on the kidney beans."

That is a fair way to look at it. The traditional dish uses kidney beans, and a pot of rice with green peas is a perfectly good side dish, so long as you know which one you are making.

What about pigeon peas?

You may also see rice and peas made with pigeon peas, also called gungo peas. They are traditionally cooked at Christmas time in Jamaica. Across the wider Caribbean, versions of the dish made with pigeon peas are common, in the Bahamas and on several of the smaller islands, for example. So "peas" really does cover a family of beans, and kidney beans are the everyday choice for the Jamaican version.

What else goes in it?

Traditional Jamaican rice and peas is cooked in coconut milk with thyme, garlic, spring onion (scallion), allspice (pimento) and sometimes a Scotch bonnet pepper. The coconut milk makes it rich and creamy, and the thyme gives it its savoury, herby character.

The version Mac cooks in our jerk chicken skewers meal is the simple weeknight one: rice, coconut milk, kidney beans, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. It is the base of a plate that already has a lot going on, so it does not need to do more.

How Mac cooks it

This is the method from the video. You can watch it, and get the full quantities for the whole meal, in our Jerk Chicken Skewers with Pineapple Salsa & Rice and Peas recipe.

1. Wash the rice. Mac uses 150g of long grain rice and washes it about three times, until the water runs clear or very nearly clear. This is what stops the cooked rice clumping together.
2. Add everything to the pan. Into the rice go roughly 125 to 150g of water, 200ml of coconut milk, half a teaspoon of thyme, one and a half crushed garlic cloves and half a tin of kidney beans, plus a little salt and pepper.
3. Bring to a rolling boil, then turn it down. Put the lid on and simmer gently for 12 to 15 minutes. Mac checks it at 12 minutes to see if the rice is tender.
4. Switch off and let it finish. With a minute or two to go, he turns the heat off and lets the rice absorb the last of the moisture.
5. Fluff and taste. Because the rice was washed, it comes out separate rather than stuck together. Fork it through, and check the seasoning before it goes on the plate.

What to serve with it

Rice and peas is usually a side dish, and it is traditionally a Sunday meal in Jamaica. It is at its best next to something spiced and smoky, because the creamy coconut rice calms the heat. Our favourite pairing is jerk chicken skewers with a fresh pineapple salsa, which is the meal in our recipe video. You can read more about where jerk comes from and how we use it in What Is Jerk Seasoning?, or use our Jerk Spice Blend on chicken thighs for the barbecue. It also works well next to our Jerk Chicken Curry.

Questions people ask

Why is it called rice and peas if it has kidney beans?

In Jamaica "peas" is used for beans and pulses generally. The dish has been called rice and peas for a long time, and the name stayed even though the bean is usually a kidney bean.

Can I use tinned kidney beans?

Yes. Mac uses them in the recipe video.

Can I use green peas instead?

You can, and Mac says so himself. It will not be the traditional Jamaican dish, but it still makes a pleasant coconut rice.

What is the difference between kidney beans and pigeon peas?

Kidney beans are the everyday choice for Jamaican rice and peas. Pigeon peas (gungo peas) are also used, and are traditionally cooked at Christmas time.

Do I need a Scotch bonnet?

Not for the simple version. Traditional recipes sometimes include one, so add it if you want to, but taste as you go because Scotch bonnets are very hot.