I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a huge “rice person” these days, but it definitely makes a regular appearance at my dinner table. While plain white rice with a side of meat and vegetables is great, sometimes you just need to spice things up! Traditional Jamaican Seasoned Rice is the ultimate way to transform ordinary rice into something spectacular. Depending on what ingredients and veggies you toss in, it easily becomes a deeply nutritious, flavor-packed, and incredibly filling one-pot meal. Try it nuh!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. white rice.
• 1 small sweet pepper.
• A few slices of beetroot (The nutritional twist).
• ¼ lbs. of saltfish.
• ½ cup cooked ackee (more if you prefer).
• 2 medium-sized carrots.
• ¼ – ½ lbs. of pumpkin.

Seasonings:

• Scallion (Green onions). A stalk, chopped finely.
• 2 pegs of Garlic/Garlic powder (1 tsp).
• 1 tsp Paprika Powder.
• 1 tsp. Black Pepper.
• A little oil.
• Salt to taste.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Prepare all your ingredients:
  • Cut garlic into small pieces.
  • Peel and cut the pumpkin into medium-sized pieces.
  • Clean carrots and slice them into medium pieces/Diagonal.
  • Peel and slice the beetroot into thin pieces.
  • Cut the sweet pepper into small pieces.
  • Wash and cut the scallion into small pieces.
• Prepare ackee and saltfish on their own by frying both up in a frying pan with your preferred seasonings.
• Add pot to the stove with about 2 cups of water.
• Add your seasonings (scallions, carrots, pumpkins, beetroot, sweet pepper, salt, black pepper, garlic, and paprika powder).
• Add the ackee and saltfish.
• Then rinse rice and add to pot (ensure rice is covered with water).
• Add salt (to taste).
• Stir a little.
• Let cook until rice is tender (not too soft)
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes:

If you do not have ackee and saltfish, you can use just the listed vegetables or vegetables you have available.  The aim is to make this a one-pot meal that is filling and healthy. 

I do not like adding too many vegetables, but you can add as you see fit. This was a very enjoyable meal.  I ate it with a nice glass of cool Beetroot punch.  You can find a similar beetroot recipe here. You can also find another simple rice porridge to add to your breakfast routine.

• The Replenisher – Carrot and Beetroot Juice
• Jamaican Rice Porridge

Ingredient Spotlight!

~ Carrot~

Carrots are a root vegetable that is mostly orange in colour even though they are black, purple, red, and even yellow and white varieties available in some parts of the world.  However, these are usually considered domesticated forms of the wild ‘orange-coloured’ carrot.

Carrots have a lot of nutritional goodness, the most famous being their high vitamin A contents and thus their benefits for eye health.  Other vitamins and minerals include vitamin K, Vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin C, calcium, iron, as well as fiber. Also, one medium-sized carrot is said to have about four (4) grams (1 teaspoon) of sugar, hence its slightly sweet flavour.

To good health!

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