Description
Homemade Caribbean chicken and rice delivers a tropical feast with bold spices and rich flavors. Local ingredients blend into a hearty meal you can savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs (skin on)
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 1 can (14 oz/400 ml) coconut milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 green bell pepper (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper (finely chopped, optional)
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp Caribbean jerk seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season Preparation: Massage chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and jerk seasoning, creating a thoroughly coated flavor foundation.
- Searing Stage: Warm vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat, positioning chicken skin-side down to develop a perfectly caramelized, crispy exterior for 5-7 minutes per side, then transfer to a holding plate while preserving the savory pan drippings.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté diced onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic in the same skillet, allowing them to soften and release their intricate flavor profile for approximately 5 minutes.
- Liquid Integration: Combine long-grain rice, coconut milk, chicken broth, fresh thyme, and a whole scotch bonnet pepper, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil before reducing heat to low and reintroducing the seared chicken.
- Simmering Process: Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes, enabling rice to absorb the complex spice blend and liquid elements, ensuring tender meat and perfectly textured grains.
- Final Touches: Fold in frozen peas during the last cooking moments, remove the scotch bonnet pepper, and garnish with chopped cilantro to introduce a fresh, herbaceous dimension.
- Serving Presentation: Plate the caribbean chicken and rice, ensuring each serving showcases the dish’s vibrant colors and rich, layered flavors.
Notes
- Optimize Seasoning: Ensure even coating of jerk seasoning for maximum Caribbean flavor penetration.
- Master Chicken Browning: Achieve golden-crispy skin by cooking chicken on medium heat, developing caramelized color without burning.
- Control Spice Intensity: Remove whole scotch bonnet pepper before serving to manage heat levels for different taste preferences.
- Preserve Moisture: Let chicken rest and simmer gently in rice mixture to maintain tenderness and absorb rich, complex flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg