Monday, April 26, 2010

Riz Aux Pois (Rice and Beans) - Haitian Dish


The effort to help the people in Haiti is still in full stride. About $5,000 in funds was raised by about 100 employees from our Montreal office alone, the month of the tragic events. Today, we're still talking about it with a few colleagues on how to continue to help this country that was in desperate need for help and care, but is now starting to show signs of hope and strength. There's still a long way to go to fully reconstruct the areas that were seriously impacted but a gleem of positivity has always resided within the people of Haiti.Haitians continue to receive food and the markets are coming back in full force. They're selling their traditional dishes such as griot, bananes pesées, joumou and riz aux pois.

Riz aux pois is a national dish that consists mainly of rice and red kidney beans. It's full of fiber and protein. It gives the body strength, energy, gratifying and so savoury....

Preparation time: 10 minutes, Cooking time : 1 hour and 20 minutes

Recipe "au pif":
1 cup red kidney beans (rinse, then soak in 3 1/2 cups warm water overnight)
1/2 cup fresh chives, finely minced
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 cloves (ground in mortar and pestle)
2 cups quick-cooking brown rice
2 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup coconut milk (optional)
salt
pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter

After soaking the red kidney beans overnight in warm water, use the same water to cook the beans in a pressure cooker. Takes about 45-50 minutes on medium heat. Strain the cooked beans but save the water and set aside. The water in which the beans cooked will be used to cook the rice and give it colour.

Heat a large deep sauce pan on medium heat. Add olive oil and melt butter, for about 30 seconds.

Add in the chives, garlic, cloves and stir for about 1 minute or until garlic is softened but not burnt.

Add in the beans and give it a good stir for about 2 minutes.

Add in the rice and stir for about 30 seconds

Add in the water and the chicken broth. Give it a stir. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes, checking once in a while, or until the rice is fluffly.

Serve as a side dish with a red meat, fish or poultry.

Serves 4-6 people.

Share and enjoy.

2 comments:

Teresa said...

yum! my haitian friends i work with make this whenver we have a big get together (with spiced meat and fried plantains, mm!) its delish. i'll have to try your recipe out!

QlinArt said...

Thanks Teresa for dropping by my blog. I used a healthier way to cook this rice as the true Haitian riz aux pois calls for animal fat which gives it that unique and awesome taste. This alternative is still tasty. Let me know how it turns out!