Cuisines that evolve due to migration catch my fancy pretty quickly. This is probably because after living in a few different countries you start evolving yourself based on the local availability of ingredients and your own innate need to satisfy your flavour buds. One such cuisine I recently researched on was Guyanese. The vamazelli cake that we made earlier was loved by everyone that we shared it with. They were certainly blown away by the simplicity of the recipe and the likeness of the cuisine to Indian semiya kheer.This prompted me to try further to understand these similarities.
Why is Guyanaese cuisine unique?
Guyana is a South American country, rich in cultural vibrancy that blends together India, African, Amerindian and European together. Ever since Christopher Colombus discovered the coast in 1498 the Spaniards, Dutch and the British colonized the region. Since the soil was fertile and sugar plantation took over the world, Slaves to indentured laborers have worked the land. Since the laborers arrived from different parts of the world, they all bought with them a piece of home. During their struggle to survive and later the resilience to thrive each added a bit of their knowledge to be shared. So Africans brought stews, rice and bean combos. The Indian contributed by curries, rotis and chutney. the Chinese gave the chowmein and so forth. The land and the people already were rich in plantains, cassava and plenty of vegetables, The Guyanese cuisine therefore evolved by seamlessly coalesced into one fragrant, delicious culinary treat.
What is cook up rice?
Cook up rice is a one pot rice and protein kind of dish. Made with a mix of meat or beans or both together, the dish one of the guyanese favorites. It is made during New year’s Eve as rice and beans brings in a good year with plenty of food on the table. Cook up rice is a perfect recipe for large family gatherings and versatile with the ingredients you may have in your pantry.
What to serve with cook up rice?
Being a delicious one pot rice, cook up rice is tons of flavour on its own. I have read that it is served with saltfish. However, you can have fried plantains, salad, steamed okra to keep the authenticity. You could add the pumpkin leaf stirfry on the side or a simple salad. Whatever you do, dont miss to finish this Guyanaese meal with a slice of Vamacelli cake.
Guyanese Cook up rice
Equipment
- instant pot
Ingredients
To soak the beans
- 1/4 cup black eyed beans
- 1 cup water
To saute for the base of the cook up rice
- 1/4 small Onion
- 1/2 medium Tomato
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper
- 3 sprigs oregano
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2-3 sprigs Thai basil
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
to make the rice
- 1 cup rice
- 1/2 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp burnt sugar instead of casareep
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup firm tofu cubed
- salt to taste
to garnish
- 2 tbsp scallions chopped
Instructions
- Soak the beans in water for about 6 hours.
- Drain and set aside.
- Set the instant pot on saute mode
- Add oil to the pot and saute onions, garlic, the chilli pepper and tomatoes,chopped.
- Chop and add the herbs to this mix.
- Saute for a minute and add the drained beans.
- Mix well.
- Add the rice and cubed tofu.
- Add salt, burnt sugar and curry powder.
- Mix in the coconut milk.
- Stream in the water and mix well.
- Cover and set on rice mode.
- Let the rice and beans cook and pressure release on its own.
- Fluff the rice and scatter the chopped scallions on top
- Serve the rice warm.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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I made this for dinner over the weekend and my family really enjoyed it. Loved all the different flavours from the spices in the rice.
I tried this Guyanese Cook-Up Rice recipe and it’s such a hearty meal! So perfect with the coconut milk and spiced tofu! Definitely a must try!
This Vegan Cook Up Rice is a flavorful dish with a lovely blend of curry and Thai basil. It’s a comforting and satisfying meal that’s simple to prepare. Thanks for sharing this tasty recipe!
This looks so yummy and has lots of my favorite ingredients. I can’t wait to try it!
This cook up rice was soooo tasty! Loved with dinner last night.