Rice and peas, peas and rice, rice and…. beans? Or beans and rice? Those with African or Caribbean backgrounds have more than likely enjoyed a healthy serving of rice and peas/beans, or perhaps you call it peas/beans and rice. Online many people are debating what the dish is ACTUALLY called.
“We need to hear from the beans to see how they feel about being called a pea,” one woman joked.
Online, people from Grenada, The Bahamas, and Guyana shared that personally, they call the dish “peas and rice.
And social media users from Zimbabwe and Ghana have said that they call it “rice and beans.”
We looked into the origins of the dish to settle the debate once and for all!
Rice and peas is a traditional dish that can be credited to the Akan tribe from Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa, where it is called Waakye. It is often called “rice and peas” or “peas and rice,” as the ‘peas’ are traditionally pigeon peas or gungo peas, but often they’re swapped out with more widely available (and often cheaper!) kidney beans.
“Jamaicans call it rice and peas because traditionally it was made with gungo peas. I’m not sure when we started using red beans though, but I remember growing up on gungo peas,” one woman tweeted.
“For clarity, the ‘beans’ can either be ‘red beans’ or ‘gungo or pigeon peas’ so technically, they are actually peas sometimes, My grandma uses red beans but my mama used gungo peas,” another person added.
Though we know that people in countries around the world prepare dishes with a variety of different grains and legumes, it seems like whether you call the dish rice and peas, peas and rice, beans and rice, or rice and beans, you’re not wrong! It’s often more dependent on where you live or grew up, rather than the ingredients.
Rice and peas is a staple side dish in Jamaica and much of the Caribbean. Though called rice and peas, it’s actually made with beans! The reason this name came to be is because Jamaicans call red kidney beans peas – though funnily enough, other varieties of beans are called beans.
We looked into the origins of the dish to settle the debate once and for all!
Online, people from Grenada, The Bahamas, and Guyana shared that personally, they call the dish “peas and rice.
“We need to hear from the beans to see how they feel about being called a pea,” one woman joked.
Rice and peas is a traditional dish that can be credited to the Akan tribe from Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa, where it is called Waakye. It is often called “rice and peas” or “peas and rice,” as the ‘peas’ are traditionally pigeon peas or gungo peas, but often they’re swapped out with more widely available (and often cheaper!) kidney beans.
“For clarity, the ‘beans’ can either be ‘red beans’ or ‘gungo or pigeon peas’ so technically, they are actually peas sometimes, My grandma uses red beans but my mama used gungo peas,” another person added.
We know many Jamaicans home and abroad hold the dish dear to their hearts. But few know the history behind that steaming cauldron of rice and red beans simmering in coconut milk with the sweet aroma of Jamaican spices. Here are five things you may not have known about rice and peas.
Quick Jamaican Rice & Peas
FAQ
What do they call peas in Jamaica?
Why do Jamaicans eat rice and peas on Sundays?
What is the history of rice and peas in Jamaica?
What is the meaning of rice and peas?
Why do Jamaicans say ‘rice and peas’?
According to History Professor and Author of A Concise History of the Caribbean, Barry W. Higman, Jamaicans say “rice and peas” to differentiate the dish from similar ones in nearby islands. These countries would refer to their dish as “peas and rice”, “beans and rice”, or “rice and beans”.
Are peas high in protein?
Peas are a great vegetarian or vegan protein source. Per 100g of peas, it contains 5g of protein. This is not necessarily high in protein because if compared to something like chicken, there is 27g of protein per 100g. Peas do contain protein but are not necessarily high in protein.
Why is Jamaican rice and peas called coat of arms?
Jamaican rice and peas has been nicknamed Coat of Arms. Use of this term was first noted in 1930, when A. Bain Alves recalled how hundreds of men and women at a race meeting in Kingston could get up to “a quattie rice and peas” also known as Jamaican Coat of Arms.
How to make Jamaican rice & peas?
There are many methods of making Jamaican Rice and Peas, however, this recipe requires soaking dried kidney beans overnight, then boiling them on the stovetop in order to soften them. Other methods include: Rice Cooker – pressure cook or use canned red beans then add all ingredients in a rice cooker to finish.