Pigeon Peas and Rice

"Based on a recipe from Heidi Haughy Cusick’s book, Soul and Spice, African Cooking in the Americas. This book is chock-filled with Caribbean, Bahia Brazilian, and Louisiana Creole recipes. She says, “This Caribbean mainstay is found on all the islands in a variety of forms. Sometimes it is cooked with pork; other times it is prepared with water, onions, and salt. The peas can also be cooked with coconut milk, and garlic, tomatoes, and green onions can be added. Curry power is another option. And the hot habanero (Scotch Bonnet) chile is optional. Pigeon peas are native to Africa and resemble black-eyed peas. They are pale yellow and have a small “eye”. In the West Indies, pigeon peas also go by goongoo, Congo, and gungo peas. The peas’ earthy flavor is wonderful; when these legumes are combined with rice the resulting texture is a mouthful to behold. In Cuba red beans and rice are called congri. A dish of black beans and rice on the island is called Moros y Christianos, for Moors and Christians. Cook time doesn’t include soaking the peas overnight. When I tried this, I added 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke along with smoked bacon in place of ham hocks (couldn't find) and our guests and we loved it! Nice backdrop to any dish that suggests a rice accompaniment."
 
Download
photo by mersaydees photo by mersaydees
photo by mersaydees
Ready In:
1hr 45mins
Ingredients:
9
Serves:
6
Advertisement

ingredients

Advertisement

directions

  • Place pigeon peas in bowl and cover with several inches extra water; soak overnight. Drain.
  • In a large, heavy saucepan, combine drained pigeon peas with water (or water and coconut milk). Bring to the boil and add the ham hocks, onion, 1 clove of the garlic, and the chile. Reduce heat to medium-high and simmer, uncovered, until the peas are tender, about 45 minutes.
  • Stir in the rice; reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook until the rice is tender, another 20-30 minutes. About 5 minutes before the rice is tender, add the last garlic clove to the pot by squeezing it through a garlic press.
  • Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and red-hot sauce, if using, and serve.

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!
Advertisement

Reviews

  1. Excellent!! I just wish I had started sooner and/or had more patience because the peas were a bit, ummm....el dente. But a VERY tasty dish nonetheless. I am very bad at following directions & I cooked the peas in water until almost soft w/the ham hock, onion & jalapeno while I cooked the rice in the rice cooker. At the end, I added the rice, coconut milk, garlic, s & p. Cooked for a few minutes & served it up. YUM! Made for the Kitchen Witches ZWT5! :)
     
  2. This turned out great. After reading Elmo's review I started very early this morning with soaking the peas and cooking the lg frozen ham hock. I'm glad that I picked up coconut milk when shopping for this round of ZWT 9. This is really hot (for me..I might not try Scorch Bonnet, lol again) but so good! I just followed the recipe and got a dish that seems very authentic.
     
Advertisement

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Find More Recipes