3 Rice Dishes: Ochro, Bhagi & Split Peas Recipes by Chef Shaun 🇹🇹 Foodie Nation
Ochro Rice
Trinidadian Ochro rice is a flavorful and hearty dish combining the unique flavors of ochro with rice and various seasonings.
Yield- 6-8 persons
Ingredients
Coconut oil- ¼ cup
Onion- 3 cups (finely chopped)
Pimento- ½ cup (finely chopped)
Fine Thyme – 5 sprigs
Garlic- 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Salted Cod – 1 lb (boiled)
Ochro- 4 cups (Chopped)
Rice-3 cups
Pumpkin- 2 cups (chopped)
Coconut Milk – 4 cups
Salt- 2 tsp or to taste
Black pepper- ½ tsp or to taste
Chadon beni- ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Chive- ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Warm Water
Hot pepper- 1
Method
Heat large pot over medium to high heat.
Once heated, add oil.
Once oil is hot, add onion, pimento & fine thyme.
Allow to cook until onions are translucent (about 2 minutes).
Add garlic, salted cod & ochro.
Add rice, pumpkin, coconut milk, salt, black pepper.
Stir to combine.
Use water to submerge rice mixture.
Top with chadon beni, chive & hot pepper.
Cover, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and allow to cook until rice is al dente (about 25 minutes).
Bhagi Rice
Trinbagonian Bhagi Rice is a delicious and nutritious dish that combines rice with the earthy notes of bhagi, the richness of coconut milk and aromatic seasonings and flavorings. Bhagi a type of spinach or leafy green with an earthy flavor profile. It's a simple yet flavorful dish that's perfect as a side or a light main course.
Yield – 6 to 8 Servings.
Ingredients
Coconut Oil- ¼ cup
Onion- 3 cups
Pimento- ½ cup
Fine Thyme – 5 sprigs
Pig Tails – ½ lb
Smoke Bones- ½ lb
Bhagi (Spinach) - 10 oz (chopped)
Rice- 2 cups
Garlic- 3 tbsp (finely chopped)
Pumpkin- 1 cup (cubed)
Coconut Milk- 2 cups
Salt- 2 tsp or to taste
Black Pepper- ½ tsp or to taste
Chive- ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Chadon Beni- ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Whole Pepper- 1
Method
Heat large pot over medium to high heat.
Once heated, add oil.
Once oil is hot, add onion, pimento & fine thyme.
Allow to cook until onions are translucent (about 2 minutes).
Add pigtail & smoked bones.
Stir in bhagi, cover and allow heat to break it down (about 3 minutes).
Add rice, garlic & pumpkin.
Season with salt & black pepper before submerging everything in coconut milk & water, if needed.
Top with chadon beni, chive & hot pepper.
Cover, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and allow to cook until rice is al dente (about 25 minutes).
Split Peas & Rice
Split Peas Rice is a comforting and nutritious dish that highlights the delicious blend of rice and split peas with aromatic seasonings and flavourings from Trinidad and Tobago.
Yield - 6 to 8 Servings.
Ingredients
Diced Onions – 2 cups
Pimento – ½ cup (finely chopped)
Fine Thyme – 5 sprigs
Dried Split Peas – 1 ½ cups
Uncooked Rice - 3 cups
Salt – 2 tsp or to taste
Black pepper -1/2 tsp or to taste
Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
Garlic - 3 tbsp (finely chopped)
Diced Carrot - 1 ½ cups
Diced Pumpkin - 1 ½ cups
Chadon – ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Chive – ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Scotch Bonnet Pepper - to taste (finely chopped)
Method
Wash split peas
Submerge in boiling water and allow to cook over low heat until tender (about 30 minutes to 1 hour). You want the peas to mash up in your hand when squeezed together.
Set aside.
Heat large pot over medium to high heat.
Add onion, pimento, fine thyme.
Allow to cook until onions are translucent (about 2 minutes).
Add peas & rice,
Add salt, black pepper, turmeric.
Add garlic, carrots & pumpkin.
Submerge mixture in water.
Top with remaining ingredients.
Bring to a boil before reducing to a simmer.
Cover and allow to cook until rice is al dente (about 25 minutes).
Comments