Rice & Quinoa Recipes

Many Caribbean countries have a version of rice and peas.  Typically, the dish is cooked in coconut milk or vegetable broth along with aromatics like onions, thyme and peppers.  In Trinidad and Tobago the pigeon pea is usually the legume of choice like in this Trinidadian pelau recipe. While in the Jamaican version you’ll most likely get kidney beans.

As the summer draws to a close, I’m trying to take advantage of the fruits and vegetables that are in season.  Okra is one of those vegetables. During this summer I’ve eaten more okra than ever before in my entire life. Did you see my Cajun Roasted Okra?  Another one of the recipes that came out of my new love for okra was this Caribbean okra and rice. This dish is very popular in the Caribbean.  While working on it I got flashbacks to Sunday lunch with family in Trinidad. The smell of sauteed onions and garlic in bubbling coconut milk makes me think of home.  

Think back to some of the food smells of your childhood. Are there any dishes that instantly take you back to your childhood?

Try this dish with your favorite meat, fish or green vegetables.

Prep Time: 15 minutes . Cook Time:  +30 minutes . Yield: Serves 6

Celery, onion and bell peppers are considered to the "Holy Trinity" of Cajun cuisine.  These aromatic vegetables along with an array of spices and cooking techniques are the building blocks of any authentic Cajun meal.   This rice recipe is very simple and incorporates the Holy Trinity along with the MBMK Cajun Seasoning Blend.

Add some excitement to your quinoa with this simple recipe.  It's our cashew quinoa with sun dried tomatoes.  Yum! This recipe is vegan and gluten-free and will go great with any of our vegetable dishes.

Chicken pelau (/pəˈlaʊ/) is a very popular one-pot dish in Trinidad and Tobago;  it's this country's version of a pilaf and is packed with flavor.   We're sharing with you our take of this dish where we use brown rice.  This flavorful dish makes a complete meal with the addition of a fresh green salad or vegetables.  This recipe is gluten-free.

Here's another quick one--red cabbage rice! We're always looking for ways to make brown rice more interesting and in this recipe we've added some red cabbage and green onions for additional color and flavor; we even snuck some ginger in there as well.  Try this dish with any of our other vegetable or meat recipes.  This dish is naturally gluten-free, vegan and freezer-friendly.

Our bok choy fried rice is packed with flavor and sneaks in some extra greens.  Bok choy (also known as pak choy or chinese cabbage) is a leafy vegetable that is available all year round but is most abundant in the winter months.  In this recipe, we combine it with brown rice, spices and ginger to create a protein-packed fried rice dish.  Try this dish with any of our other vegetable or meat recipes.  Omit the eggs and chicken breast to make this a vegan-friendly recipe.   You can also consider adding tofu as a source of protein.

Yellow rice! Yay!  Here is a simple way to transform your brown rice into a tasty bowl of yellow yumminess!  This recipe is gluten-free and vegan-friendly.   Try this dish with our baked chicken and our sautéed spinach.  In Peckings: A Taste of the Caribbean, we have an even yummier version of this yellow rice recipe.

Here's another way you can add some color and flavor to rice.  In addition to being flavorful, this recipe includes black beans that add a little extra protein.  The dish is gluten-free, vegan and ideal for meal prep.  Try it with our MBMK style steamed broccoli.