Cook-Up Rice (Guyanese One-Pot Rice with Black-Eyed Peas and Coconut)
In short: A one-pot Guyanese rice cooked in coconut milk with black-eyed peas, chicken and salted beef, simmered until fluffy with a crisp base. It takes about 2 h 10 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 2 h 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 600 kcal
Cook-up is the one-pot meal Guyanese families make for weekend lunches and New Year's Eve. Black-eyed peas, chicken and salted beef simmer together first, then rice and coconut milk go into the same pot with thyme and a whole hot pepper. Everything cooks into a soft, savory, slightly creamy mound, and the bottom is often left to form a golden crust. Serve it with a simple salad or pepper sauce.
Instructions
- Put the peas, salted beef and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer partly covered for 30 to 40 minutes, until the peas are almost tender. Drain, keeping 250 ml (1 cup) of the liquid.
- Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken for 4 minutes per side, then move it to a plate.
- Lower the heat and cook the onion, garlic and scallions for 4 minutes. Return the chicken and add the thyme, whole pepper and black pepper.
- Add the peas and salted beef, the coconut milk and the reserved liquid. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the rice and 1 teaspoon of salt and bring back to a boil. Cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 20 minutes, until the rice is tender and the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Rest for 10 minutes without lifting the lid. Remove the thyme stems and the pepper, fluff gently with a fork and taste for salt. Serve hot, scraping up the crisp layer from the bottom.
Tips
- Salted beef and coconut milk vary in saltiness, so taste the liquid before adding the last of the salt. Leave the pepper whole for flavor without much heat, and take it out before serving.
- Bacon, smoked sausage or pig tail can replace the salted beef. Leave the pot undisturbed for the final minutes, since a golden crust at the bottom is prized.
Questions and answers
What is cook-up rice?
Cook-up is a Guyanese one-pot dish of rice, black-eyed peas, coconut milk and meat, cooked together until soft and savory. It is a weekend and holiday favorite.
Can I use canned black-eyed peas?
Yes. Use two 400 g (14 oz) cans, drained, and add them with the coconut milk. Simmer the salted beef alone in water for 30 minutes first and use 250 ml (1 cup) of its liquid.
Is cook-up rice spicy?
Only gently. A whole Scotch bonnet or wiri wiri pepper scents the pot without bursting, so the heat is mild. Serve pepper sauce on the side for those who want more.
How long does it take to make Cook-Up Rice (Guyanese One-Pot Rice with Black-Eyed Peas and Coconut)?
About 2 h 10 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cook-Up Rice (Guyanese One-Pot Rice with Black-Eyed Peas and Coconut)?
About 600 kcal per serving, with 36 g of protein, 65 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 600 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 65 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
