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    30-Minute Meals » Instant Pot Pigeon Peas Rice

    Instant Pot Pigeon Peas Rice

    Posted On August 27, 2021 By Mirlene Last updated February 20, 2022 15 Comments

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    rice and pigeon peas in white bowl Pinterest pin

    For a super easy instant pot spin on Pigeon Peas Rice, you have come to the right place!

    rice and pigeon peas in white bowl

    This recipe is super simple because it requires very few ingredients and the ones it does require mostly consist of items that have a long shelf life. Chances are you have half the ingredients in your pantry already!

    ORIGINS

    Pigeon Peas Rice (also known as Pigeon Peas and Rice or Peas ‘n’ Rice) is wildly popular in the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, and tons of other islands in the Caribbean.  

     

    It originated in the West Indian Caribbean Islands and has been a staple dish there ever since. It is no surprise as to why. 

    This dish is so cheap and easy to make (don’t forget delicious) that it is a wonder it isn’t a staple in every country (though other countries probably have some rendition of it: i.e., red beans and rice in the United States.)

    INGREDIENTS

    The base of this dish (besides the rice, of course) is the Pigeon Pea, also known as gungo pea.  You can use dried or canned pigeon peas; whichever is easiest for you. Of course, fresh is usually best, but sometimes the convenience of canned or prechopped items are well worth the trade-off. 

    As far as the rice is concerned, this recipe utilizes Jasmine rice, which is soft, fluffy, and mildly sweet. It pairs really well with the nutty flavor of the pigeon peas. 

    rice and pigeon peas in white bowl with peas

    Both of these ingredients are super easy to keep on-hand. This recipe also uses tomato paste which is perfect to keep in the pantry, as you can use it to prepare this keto beef stew, instant pot oxtail, or this poulet en sauce. 

    The onions, carrots, garlic, and thyme are the only fresh produce you might want to purchase relatively close to when you are planning on preparing this delicious, warm dish. 

    The coconut milk will provide that rich flavor that’s normally found in most Caribbean rice, similar to the flavors found in this Caribbean Rice and Chicken recipe. 

    SUBSTITUTES

    It has been known to happen that an ingredient you think will be super easy to find is absolutely nowhere in sight. If you have a hard time finding pigeon peas, whether canned or dried, you could always substitute them for a different legume. 

    We have found that black-eyes peas, kidney beans, or even lentils are great substitutes. It might be fun to experiment with your favorite beans and see what tastes the best to you. 

    This recipe is super versatile and that is part of the fun of cooking: making it your own. The same rules apply to the rice, though depending on the kind of rice, it might influence the consistency of the dish slightly.

    HOW TO PREPARE THIS DISH

    The exact measurements are found in the recipe card below. For now, here’s a quick overview with step-by-step guide to make this recipe perfectly each single time. 

    In the instant pot, select sautéed. Adjust the time to 30 minutes. Next, add in the oil, then add the garlic, onions, and carrots. Cook until fragrant.

    Add the tomato paste; stir. Then add the peas. Stir and cook for an additional 1 minute.

    Add the rice, salt and pepper. Stir to well combine. Now, add in the liquid from the peas and water. Stir once.

    Steps 1 -4 Instant pot pigeon peas and rice

    Add the coconut milk. Stir to mix well. Cover with the lid. Seal and cook for 12 minutes on high pressure; or simply select the rice button on the instant pot.

    Allow to natural release for 10-20 minutes. Fluff the rice and serve warm.

    rice and pigeon peas in white bowl with dried peas and herbs

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION(S)

    What are pigeon peas?

    Known to the islands in the Caribbean, pigeon peas are often prepared with rice and bold seasonings. 

    Why are they called pigeon peas?

    Pigeon Peas are part of the Cajanus Cajan family. They are known by Congo pea, Angola pea, and red gram. 

    Are pigeon peas the same as chickpeas?

    No, pigeon peas and chickpeas are completely different peas. Pigeon peas are more related to black eye peas or lentils. 

    OVERVIEW

    Overall, this is a great dish for so many different reasons. It is affordable and therefore easy to make in large amounts, this is an instant pot version which keeps the process simple and easy to execute, and it is incredibly filling. 

    rice and pigeon peas in white bowl with herbs

    The rice and beans come together to form a complete protein which will keep you feeling fulfilled long after you take the last bite. No matter how you choose to alter this recipe, there are not a whole lot of ways to do it wrong. 

    HAITIAN RECIPES TO TRY

    If you loved this pigeon peas rice recipe, find more rice recipes here, and try one of these Haitian recipes next:

    Haitian Lambi Stew

    Haitian Akra (Accra)

    Mayi Moulen

    Instant Pot Millet (Pitimi)

    Haitian Marinade

    It warms our hearts to see the recipes you make from this site, tag us on Instagram or Facebook so we can see your beautiful dish. 

    rice and pigeon peas in white bowl

    Also, we would appreciate if could give it a star rating below!

    Don’t forget to see this recipe and all our latest videos on YouTube!

    rice and pigeon pease in white bowl

    How To Make Instant Pot Pigeon Peas Rice

    Savory Thoughts
    For a super easy instant pot spin on Pigeon Peas Rice, you have come to the right place! This recipe is super simple and requires very few ingredients.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Natural Release 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Caribbean, Haitian, International
    Servings 6 People
    Calories 560 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients
      

    Cook the Pigeon Peas

    • 2 Cups Dried Pigeon Peas
    • 6 Cups Water

    Rice Ingredients

    • 4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
    • 1 Small Onion Chopped
    • 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
    • 2 Carrots Chopped
    • 2 ½ Tsp. Salt We used Kosher Salt
    • 1 Tsp. Ground Black Pepper
    • 2 Cups Rice We used Jasmine Rice
    • 5 Thyme Sprigs
    • 1 Can Coconut Milk (13.5 Oz)
    • 4 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
    • 3 ½ Cups Liquid 3 Cups of the pigeon peas water and ½ cup of water

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the beans in the instant for 30 minutes. Quick release when finished, drained, and reserve liquid to use later.
      On the instant pot, select sautéed. Adjust the time to 30 minutes. Next, add in the oil, then add the garlic, onions, and carrots. Cook until fragrant.
      Add the tomato paste; stir. Then add the peas. Stir and cook for an additional 1 minute.
      Steps 1 -4 Instant pot pigeon peas and rice
    • Add the rice, salt and pepper. Stir to well combine. Now, add in the liquid from the peas and water. Stir once.
      Add the coconut milk. Stir to mix well, add the thyme. Cover with the instant pot lid. Seal and cook for 12 minutes on high pressure; or simply select the rice button on the instant pot.
      steps 5 and 6

    Video

    Notes

    **** When printing the recipe, please unselect the camera so that the pictures are NOT printed with the recipe (if preferred).
     
    *** Calories are estimated per serving

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6PeopleCalories: 560kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 50gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 1376mgPotassium: 1614mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 38IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 57mg
    Making this recipe?Mention @MSavoryThoughts or tag #SavoryThoughts!
    Tried this recipe?Mention @SavoryThoughts or tag #SavoryThoughts!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MMS

      December 18, 2022 at 4:12 am

      how many cans of pigeon peas?

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        January 03, 2023 at 1:36 pm

        For this recipe we did not use the cans. We used the dried pigeon peas. If you want to use the can pigeon peas, use 2 cans (15.5 oz each can) to serve 6-8 people.

        Reply
    2. Erika

      April 17, 2022 at 12:21 am

      Was I supposed to change something when using canned pigeon peas because my rice came out gummy? 😞 Please advise for next time I try. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        April 28, 2022 at 1:16 pm

        Oh no! Sorry to hear that. If you are using canned pigeon peas, it is best to drain and rinse the beans out first. We have a video coming out that will show the exact step to take when using the dried peas and the canned peas. Please stay tuned.

        Reply
    3. Adrienne

      November 13, 2021 at 11:03 pm

      Is this meant more as side or can it be used as an entree

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        November 14, 2021 at 12:05 pm

        Hi Adrienne, it can be used as both. In our home and culture rice is the main dish.

        Reply
    4. Natalie

      September 28, 2021 at 9:56 am

      5 stars
      What delicious rice. The perfect side to any meat dish. I love the flavors and fact that you used coconut milk. Sounds so healthy. I will definitely make this. Thanks!

      Reply
    5. Jessica Stroup

      September 28, 2021 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      Since the price of groceries have continued to rise, I’ve been looking for more healthy budget meals. I substituted black-eyed peas because is.whatninhad on hand…so flavorful and delicious!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 05, 2021 at 6:47 am

        Thank you, Jessica.

        Reply
    6. Kate

      September 28, 2021 at 8:50 am

      5 stars
      Wow, gorgeous rice dish – I haven’t tried cooking with pigeon peas before but what a way to start. Packed with flavours and easy to make too. Yum!

      Reply
      • Mirlene

        October 05, 2021 at 6:47 am

        Thank you, Kate

        Reply
    7. sonia

      September 28, 2021 at 6:03 am

      5 stars
      thanks for the ingredients for this recipe!

      Reply
    8. sonia

      September 28, 2021 at 6:01 am

      This recipe is very simple and very good

      Reply
    9. Chenée

      September 28, 2021 at 5:30 am

      5 stars
      This rice was SO delicious and so easy in the Instant Pot! It was my first time making rice and pigeon peas so thank you for this recipe!

      Reply
    10. Maria

      September 28, 2021 at 4:41 am

      5 stars
      Looking for healthy recipes that my kids would love. This one’s perfect! I’ve been trying to make them eat veggies.

      Reply

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