Trinidad Pelau Chicken and Pigeon Peas
OtherNon-vegetarian5700 min
Trini Pelau is an iconic dish of pigeon peas, meat or chicken that is cooked with fresh herbs, and coconut milk. The entire dish is flavored and colored with bu...
View ingredients & steps
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken thighs (and/or drumsticks, cut up into large pieces)
- 2 tablespoons green seasoning
- 2 teaspoons grated garlic
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 3 tablespoons cane sugar (can substitute for brown sugar)
- 2 cups rice (washed, drained and parboiled)
- 3/4 cup onions (chopped)
- 1/2 cup sweet peppers (chopped)
- 2 cups cooked pigeon peas (canned is fine)
- Optional: 1 cup carrots (diced)
- 2 cups fresh coconut milk (dilute milk with water if using canned coconut milk)
- 2 cups cooking liquid (stock, water or reserved cooking liquid from peas)
- 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions (white and green parts)
Directions
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a large bowl, place chicken, green seasoning, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and ketchup along with salt and pepper (to taste).
- Toss to mix and coat the chicken with the seasonings. Set aside and let marinate for at least an hour.
- Pour oil into a large pot and place on medium-high heat. Let oil heat until hot but not smoking.
- Make the burnt sugar by sprinkling it into the heated oil in an even layer.
- Let the sugar melt until it starts to froth and bubble.
- As soon as the edges of the froth/bubbles start to get a slight shade darker, immediately add the seasoned chicken and stir to mix and coat with the burnt sugar.
- Let cook for 7 to 10 minutes.
- Add the rice to the pot, stir to mix and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add onions, sweet peppers, peas and carrots (if using) and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in coconut milk and other cooking liquid. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss in whole scotch bonnet pepper. Cover pot and bring to a boil.
- When the pot comes to a boil, remove lid partially and let boil until you can see the surface of the dish—about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Cover pot fully, reduce heat to low and let cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Sprinkle the green onion on top and fold into Pelau. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper if necessary.
- Serve hot or at room temperature.