Ingredients
Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.
Serves 6
Caramel
Chicken
Rice
Equipment
Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; saucepan with lid; sieve; food thermometer; heatproof spoon; spatula.
Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.
Steps
Caramel · About 8 min
- Heat 30 ml neutral oil, 40 g brown sugar until sugar turns dark amber, watching carefully.
Check: Look for this result: sugar turns dark amber, watching carefully.
Chicken · About 8 min
- Carefully add 700 g chicken thighs, cubed, 150 g onion, chopped, 15 g garlic, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp salt and stir 8 minutes; sugar may splutter.
Rice · About 30 min
- Add 350 g long-grain rice, 500 g cooked pigeon peas, 200 g carrots, diced, 400 ml coconut milk, 450 ml water, cover and simmer on low 25–30 minutes until rice is tender and chicken reaches 74°C / 165°F. Rest 10 minutes.
Check: Look for this result: rice is tender and chicken reaches 74°C / 165°F.
Tips
- Do not let the caramel turn black before adding chicken.
- Judge Trinidad Pelau by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Trinidad Pelau takes to cook.
Substitutions
- In Trinidad Pelau, replace pigeon peas with cooked black-eyed peas.
Storage
- Cool Trinidad Pelau in shallow portions and refrigerate promptly, ideally within one hour. Finish Trinidad Pelau within 24 hours, keeping it at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
- Reheat the cooked rice in Trinidad Pelau once, until it steams throughout and reaches 74°C / 165°F. If serving Trinidad Pelau as a cold rice dish, keep it refrigerated until serving.
Make ahead
- For Trinidad Pelau, measure the rice and seasonings in advance. Keep the chopped vegetables for Trinidad Pelau separately in the fridge. Cook the rice for Trinidad Pelau on the day you serve it; leftover rice has a 24-hour storage limit.
FAQ
What matters most when making Trinidad Pelau?
Do not let the caramel turn black before adding chicken.
What can I substitute in Trinidad Pelau?
In Trinidad Pelau, replace pigeon peas with cooked black-eyed peas.
Can I prepare Trinidad Pelau ahead?
For Trinidad Pelau, measure the rice and seasonings in advance. Keep the chopped vegetables for Trinidad Pelau separately in the fridge. Cook the rice for Trinidad Pelau on the day you serve it; leftover rice has a 24-hour storage limit.
Food safety references
FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating
