Instant Pot Jamaican Rice and Peas

The instant pot population is getting higher and so is the demand for new ways to make old recipes. Jamaican rice and peas is a national staple and is now international. This instant pot Jamaican rice and peas recipe will not only be delicious but quick and easy. Who wants to soak peas overnight? 

Jamaican rice and peas is a traditional Sunday dish in Jamaica. Growing up, no matter what the protein was on a Sunday, there was always rice and peas along with vegetables and homemade juice. I can remember my grandmother soaking the peas from overnight with a piece of garlic. Then on Sunday morning, she would wake up around 4am to start cooking the peas. 

Cooking the peas for any Jamaican rice and peas is a recipe within itself. The peas must be soaked, then cooked with natural flavors like pimento (allspice berries), scallions, garlic, thyme and even fresh coconut milk. 

Fresh coconut milk is the norm for real authentic Jamaicans. Now you can find a wide range of coconut milk and coconut milk based products in almost every corner store. But, in Jamaica, the fresh coconut milk comes from the dried coconut. Many Jamaicans, and other Caribbean Nations, use the dried coconut for a variety of reasons. 

Uses for Dried Coconut 

1. Cooking  - like making Instant Pot Coconut Rice, Jamaican Seasoned Rice or  Jamaican Peanut Porridge
2. Cleaning - some use the really dried coconuts as a polishing tool for the floor
3. Fire - dried coconut husks are good fire starters

What is the Best Coconut Milk? 

If you are trying to find the best coconut milk, the most organic option is to make your own. The best coconut milk comes from the coconut itself. This is the same coconut milk I mentioned that we use for the Jamaican rice and peas. 

Here are a few coconut milk brands I would recommend from Amazon.

1.Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Milk - Vegan

2.Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Organic Coconut Milk - Vegan

3. Native Forest Simple Organic Coconut Milk - Vegan

4. Nature's Charm Sweetened Coconut Condensed Milk - Vegan

How to Make Coconut Milk?

1. First you will need to find a dry coconut and open it.
2. There may be coconut water, there may not be. If there is, make sure you drink some, Jamaicans say it is good for your heart. 
3. Remove the white flesh from the hush and place in a blender. 
4. You can add water or coconut water to the blender. Just enough to smoothly blend the coconut flesh. 
5. Blend the coconut flesh and water until it is smooth. 
6. Use a cheesecloth or a very fine strainer and allow the coconut milk to slowly run through. 
7. Store in the fridge for up to a week. 

How to Properly Store Fresh Coconut Milk? 

As natural as it is, coconut milk does go bad. Since the coconut flesh has been exposed to oxygen, it has a right to go bad. You must store the coconut milk in an air tight sealed jar, like this one. CLICK HERE! It should last up to a week, so I would recommend making fresh batches as needed. 

What is Jamaican Rice and Peas made of? 

This Instant Pot Jamaican rice and peas recipe is pretty simple yet so delicious. The main ingredients are: 

1. Kidney Beans 
2. White Rice ( I always use Jasmine Rice)
3. Coconut Milk 
4. Thyme
5. Scallion 
6. Pimento

There will never be two identical Jamaican rice and peas recipes because everyone spices theirs differently. However, if the ingredients listed above are not present, then you are making something else. 

Why use an Instant Pot? 

To be frank, I love my Instant Pot. It saves me so much time when cooking complex meals. When making Instant Pot Jamaican rice and peas, I just dump and go because it is so simple. Delicious is an understatement.