How to Prepare Bahamian Peas & Rice

My father was born on a little island in the Bahamas called Cat Island; the same island Sidney Poitier was raised. According to my dad our families are some distant relation... But I digress. I often think back to the times when I smelled a wonderful aroma coming from my mother's kitchen only to find my father preparing some wonderful dish Bahamian dish. Peas and rice is an island staple and we often ate it at home. It is delicious and simple to prepare. There are many variations of this dish; but I will use my daddy's recipe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 green bell pepper
• 3 pieces of cooked bacon
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1 (15 ounce) can pigeon peas, drained
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• seasoning salt and pepper to taste
• 1 can chicken broth
• 3 cups water
• 2 teaspoon Worcester Sauce
• 2 cups uncooked rice
• 1 Bay leaf

1. Take a sauce pan and fry the bacon. When crisy remove and let cool. After bacon is cooled crumble and return to pan with drippings.
2. Chop your onion, garlic and green pepper and add to sauce pan with your bacon to sorte.
3. Add the pigeon peas, chicken broth, water, tomato sauce, paste, Worcestershire sauce,thyme and bay leaf and simmer.
4. Add your rice stir,cover and lower your heat, cook until rice is done.
5. Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• I like Uncle Ben's rice because it is hardy and doesn't easily get mushy
• You can add a little coconut milk for added flavor
• Be careful not to over salt as you are using chicken broth and bacon which are already salty
• Make sure the heat is low, so the rice doesn't burn on the bottom.