Jamaican Rice and Peas

In her book Traditional Jamaican Cooking Norma Benghiat says that there are many versions of rice and peas in the Caribbean, but nowhere is it such an important part of the national cuisine as it is in Jamaica. It is the centrepiece of most Sunday lunches and festive meals. The ‘peas’ are usually red kidney beans. ‘Rice and peas made with green gungo peas is prepared in the same way, and heralds the Christmas and New Year season.’

Like many other mixed rice dishes, rice and p