Pelau
HB-1703 · Hand-built original · Grenadian
Meet Pelau, the one-pot rice dish that sits at the very heart of Grenadian home cooking. Tender meat, sweet peppers and fluffy rice simmer together in coconut milk until every grain has soaked up the aroma, with a splash of local rum rounding off the pot. It is generous, forgiving food, the kind of recipe that grew out of using whatever the kitchen had to hand and ended up becoming a national treasure.
GrenadianMain Dishes1–2 servings1598 kcalGluten-freeEgg-freeHigh FiberRenal
Main ingredient: chicken
Pairs well with: roasted potatoes, rice pilaf, green beans, caesar salad, garlic bread
Servings:1quantities adjust to match
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain rice, rinsed
- 7 oz chicken (or beef), cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup vegetable stock, plus more if needed
- 1 to 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 1 tbsp dark rum (optional, traditional flavouring)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Method
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy pot with a lid over medium-high heat, add the brown sugar, and let it melt and caramelise to a deep amber, 1 to 2 minutes; watch it closely so it does not burn.
- Add the chicken at once and stir to coat in the caramel. Cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the thyme and rum, if using.
- Add the rice and stir for 1 minute to coat the grains. Pour in the coconut milk and stock and season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Add a splash more stock if the rice is still firm.
- Take off the heat and rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
Nutrition (per serving, where published)
1598 kcalCalories
56.3 gProtein
193 gCarbs
70.4 gFat
51 gSaturates
9.3 gFibre
28.5 gSugars
177 mgSodium
162 mgCholesterol
1794 mgPotassium
112 mgCalcium
6 mgIron
1 servingServing
Estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data