Instant Pot Jamaican Rice and Peas

Name: Instant Pot Jamaican Rice and Peas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 16 min
Ingredients: 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans (drained); 1 cup long grain white rice (rinsed); 1 stalks of scallions (diced); 3 cloves of garlic (minced); 1/4 teaspoon allspice; 2 sprigs of thyme; 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (whole); 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated); 1 can full fat coconut milk; 1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoning

This Jamaican Rice and Peas has all the delicious flavors of the traditional Caribbean side dish, but is quickly cooked in the pressure cooker! Have this easy coconut rice ready to eat with your favorite protein and Jamaican sides in less than 30 minutes.

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A close up view of rice and peas with scallions.

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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
Variations
Instructions
Recipe FAQs
Top Tips
More Instant Pot Recipes You May Like
📋 Recipe
💬 Comments

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Quick and delicious. By using canned peas (kidney beans), we're able to pressure cook this twist on Jamaican peas and rice in just 6 minutes. Perfect to make for Sunday dinner or any night of the week when you need something filling and flavorful.
Goes with many proteins! Serve Jamaican peas and rice with jerk chicken, curry chicken, pork, fish, and more. See more recommendations later in the post.
Freezer friendly. Easily freeze cooled leftovers in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients for rice and peas labeled and measured out.

Coconut milk - To make the most flavorful Jamaican rice, it is important to use full-fat coconut milk from a can or homemade coconut milk. Please do not substitute lite coconut milk or coconut milk from a carton. These varieties of coconut milk are too watery and won't bring enough richness to the dish.
Kidney beans - If this is your first time making rice and peas, you may have expected this recipe to include green peas. Beans are called peas in Jamaican cooking and this traditional coconut rice dish is almost always prepared with kidney beans.
Thyme, garlic, and scallion - In Caribbean cooking, thyme, garlic, and scallions are referred to as the trinity of spices. It is important to use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Don't skimp on your seasoned rice!
Scotch bonnet - Scotch bonnet peppers on their own are incredibly spicy. By pressure cooking a whole, uncut pepper in the rice, you'll get additional savory flavor without the heat.
Allspice (pimento berries) and seasoned salt - Essentials to delicious, seasoned Jamaican rice. I use and recommend Lawry's seasoning.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

Jamaican rice and peas on a white plate.

Variations

Ginger substitute: Use ½ teaspoon ground ginger in place of the fresh ginger.
Substituting the Scotch bonnet pepper: Use serrano pepper, habanero pepper or even a chili pepper in place of the Scotch bonnet pepper if needed. The flavor won't be an exact match, but it is better than leaving the heat out all together.
Using dry kidney beans: If you are cooking your peas (kidney beans) from scratch, be sure to do so before starting the recipe and pressure cooking with the rice. Cooking beans from dry takes a lot longer than it does to cook white rice in the Instant Pot. Ideally, cook and cool the peas before starting so the peas do not overcook.

Instructions

Wash the peas and rice. Drain the kidney beans and rinse the peas and rice together thoroughly with cool water. This will help remove the excess starches to help make the rice not stick together. Shelly rice is a popular term in Jamaica to describe this type of "flaky" rice.

Ingredients for rice and beans in and instant pot.

Step 1: Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot. Make sure that all of the rice is submerged in the liquid to help it cook through evenly. Secure the lid, set the valve to seal and pressure cook at manual high pressure for 6 minutes.

Rice and peas in an instant pot after cooking.

Step 2: Fluff the rice. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper and fluff the rice with a fork. Make sure all the spices are evenly distributed before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Are peas and rice a complete protein?

Yes, this coconut rice and peas dish is a complete protein on its own. This means this side dish contains all 9 of the essential amino acids and can be enjoyed as a main dish.

What goes with peas and rice?

Serve the peas and rice with one of these favorites:
- Curry Goat
- Jamaican Oxtails
- Jamaican Style Curry Chicken
-Jamaican fruit punch

Can I make rice and peas in the rice cooker?

Yes, if you do not have a pressure cooker but instead own a rice cooker, follow the instructions but cook the rice and peas on the white rice setting.

A plate of rice and kidney beans topped with green onions.

Top Tips

Before pressure cooking, give the rice and peas a good stir and mix in the spices. This will make for the most balanced flavor. Be careful not to burst the scotch bonnet or your peas and rice will be very spicy.
Remove the lid when the rice is fully cooked. If you leave the lid on, the rice will keep cooking and be soggy.