Jamaican rice and peas made easy — rice and kidney beans cooked with coconut milk, thyme, allspice and scotch bonnet. Fragrant and fluffy, with Instant Pot and stovetop methods.
This Jamaican rice and beans is the ultimate easy one-pot side — fluffy rice cooked with kidney beans in fragrant coconut milk, thyme and allspice. The Instant Pot makes it foolproof, but it works just as well on the stovetop. Rich, aromatic and deeply comforting, it's the perfect partner to any Caribbean main.
Prep 10 min
Cook 25 min
Total 35 min
Easy
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 chopped Onion
- 1 clove finely chopped Garlic
- 2 chopped Spring Onions
- 2 cups Rice
- 3/4 cup Coconut Milk
- 3/4 cup Water
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Allspice
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 450g Kidney Beans
- 2 sprigs Thyme
Video
Preparation
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Once hot, add the olive oil, then the onion, and stir until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and spring onions and stir for about 30 seconds.
- Press Cancel. Add the rice, coconut milk, water, salt, allspice and black pepper and stir.
- Pour the undrained kidney beans on top of the rice — do not stir — and lay the thyme sprigs on top. Cover, ensuring the valve is set to Sealing.
- Pressure cook on High for 6 minutes.
- Once done, allow to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid, remove the thyme, fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.
- Stovetop method: heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, soften the onion for 3 minutes, then add the garlic and spring onions for 30 seconds. Add the rice, undrained beans, coconut milk, water, salt, allspice and pepper and stir, lay the thyme on top, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce to low, and cook for 18 minutes, then rest off the heat, covered, for 5 minutes more. Remove the thyme and fluff with a fork.
Tips from the ZestyPlate Kitchen
- Don't stir the beans into the rice before cooking — laying them on top helps everything cook evenly.
- Use full-fat coconut milk for the richest, most flavourful rice.
- Lay whole thyme sprigs on top so they're easy to remove after cooking.
- Let it rest, covered, before fluffing so the rice finishes steaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar — 'peas' in Jamaica refers to the kidney beans. This is essentially a convenient one-pot version of the classic rice and peas.
Yes — cook them until tender first, or pressure cook them with the rice if your method allows. Tinned beans are the quick, easy option.
Too much liquid or overcooking. Measure the liquid carefully and follow the timing, letting it rest before fluffing.
It's the classic side for curry chicken, curry goat, jerk and stews — anywhere you'd want fragrant, coconutty rice.
