Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
15 oz canned fire roasted diced tomatoes
8 oz canned pigeon peas, drained
1 cup light coconut milk
1 cup chicken stock
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapenos, diced
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 tablespoons Caribbean-style curry powder*
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 bay leaves
salt
freshly ground black pepper
about 1 1/3 cup jasmine rice (2 “slow cooker” cups)
Directions:
1 to 24 hours before cooking, marinate the chicken with the spices, onion, garlic and peppers in a marinading container or resealable plastic bag. Then, heat the oil in a large pot. Saute the entire contents of the bag or container until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Add the canned ingredients. Stir. Simmer for 35 minutes. Place the raw rice into the rice cooker. Strain all of the liquid out of the chicken mixture into a bowl. Pour into the rice cook. Add water or stock to reach the correct liquid level in the rice cooker. Top with the chicken mixture. Close the lid set to automatically cook (the “mixed rice” setting if possible). When the rice cooker is ready, stir the contents before serving.
Yield: about 4 servings
*Available at well-stocked grocery stores and spice shops. It is a mixture of ground coriander, fenugreek, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, clove, bay leaf, fennel seed, ginger, cayenne, allspice and cardamom. There are also many recipes online to make your own.
My thoughts:
My husband has been using the rice cooker to make meals to take to work for years now. Since our trip to the Caribbean he has been making this particular dish nearly every week! He divides it up into separate containers and has it for lunch for several days. Now that he has perfected it, he suggested I share it with all of you. It is pretty quick and very easy to make. The rice cooker cooks the rice to perfection in the flavorful broth, making it a true pilau (pilaf). The gentle cooking of the rice means that the meat and vegetables do not become overcooked, just meltingly tender with their flavors well melded together.
Quick note: we made this in my wonderful Zojirushi Umami Micom Rice Cooker so I can really can only 100% vouch for the success of this recipe in this particular rice cooker. That said, I cannot imagine that it wouldn’t work in another 5 1/2 cup rice cooker.
Sounds delicious! But how would you alter the recipe for those without a rice cooker? Either in a crockpot or or just stove top.
I haven't done that but I guess you could just add the rice to the pot at the "add to rice cooker" step and cook until the rice is done.
I cannot wait to make this. I have both a rice cooker and a slow cooker. I plan to try it in both. Thanks for this recipe!
Love the flavors in this dish! Looks and sounds so tasty!
Do you find there's any lingering flavor in your rice cooker after you make it? I'm afraid to cook anything but plan grains in mine because I don't want my next batch of rice to taste like curry or something.
Sarah,
Nope!
wow –
I am from Trinidad and cook Pelau regularly and never thought to try it in the rice cooker I am excited to try it – thanks!
This looks terrific and now that I don't cook rise as much, this would help me shake the rust off!