Rice and Beans (Caribbean)

Name: Rice and Beans (Caribbean)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Costa Rican
Ingredients: 2 cups long-grain rice; 1 can (400g) red kidney beans, drained; 400ml coconut milk; 1.5 cups water; 3 sprigs fresh thyme; 1 scotch bonnet pepper, whole; 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp coconut oil

Rice and Beans ((English Creole))

Limon-Style Coconut Rice and Red Beans

⏱ Prep Time 10 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 341 kcal

Red beans and rice cooked together in coconut milk with thyme and scotch bonnet — the aromatic Caribbean coast staple that differs completely from gallo pinto.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 10.0g

Carbs 55.0g

Fat 9.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

heavy pot with lid wooden spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: plate

Garnishes: thyme sprig

Accompaniments: jerk chicken, rondon, patacones

Ingredients

2 cups long-grain rice
1 can (400g) red kidney beans, drained
400ml coconut milk
1.5 cups water
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 scotch bonnet pepper, whole
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

1
Heat coconut oil in a pot. Add rice and stir 1 min to toast lightly.
2
Add coconut milk, water, beans, thyme, scotch bonnet, and salt.
3
Bring to a boil, then cover tightly and reduce to lowest heat.
4
Cook 20 min without lifting the lid.
5
Remove scotch bonnet and thyme. Fluff with a fork. Serve.

💡

Did You Know?

On the Caribbean coast, rice and beans is cooked in coconut milk and uses red beans — completely different from the Pacific side's black-bean gallo pinto, causing a delicious east-west divide.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

heavy pot with lid
wooden spoon

Garnishing

thyme sprig

Accompaniments

jerk chicken, rondon, patacones

The Story Behind Rice and Beans (Caribbean)

Rice and beans (always said in English, never Spanish) is the Caribbean coast equivalent of gallo pinto, but the two dishes could not be more different. This version uses red kidney beans, coconut milk, and thyme — reflecting Jamaican and Afro-Caribbean heritage. It arrived with the Jamaican and Barbadian workers who settled in Limon and is a daily staple in Caribbean Costa Rica.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed daily staple on caribbean coast 📜 Origins: Afro-Caribbean tradition

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