Trini Chicken Pelau

Savor the taste of tradition with this Trini Chicken Pelau, a beloved Caribbean one-pot meal. This recipe is elevated with the rich flavors of Chief Brand’s signature ingredients—Cook Up Spice Blend, Cinnamon Essence, and Casareep—infusing every bite with authentic island aroma and depth. Perfect for gatherings, this dish brings together caramelized chicken, rice, and fresh vegetables for a truly unforgettable meal.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil 1/2 cup
• Brown Sugar
• 1 whole Seasoned Chicken cut into pieces
• 2 1/2 cups Rice
• 2 tins Pigeon Peas
• 6 cloves Garlic finely minced
  
• 1/2 cup Onions minced
  
• 2 bundles Chive chopped
  
• 8 Pimento Peppers finely minced
  
• 1 1/4 cup Pumpkin cubed
  
• 1 cup Coconut Milk
  
• Water
  
• 2 tbsp Chief Brand Cook Up Spice Blend
  
• 2 tsp Chief Brand Cinnamon Essence
  
• 2 tbsp Chief Brand Casareep
  
• 1 whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper
  
• 3/4 cup Carrots cubed
  
• 1/2 cup Corn Kernels
  
• 2 bundles Chadon Beni or Coriander Leaves chopped
  
• Chief Brand Salt and Black Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1. Heat iron pot over high heat.
2. Once pot is hot, add the oil and then add brown sugar.
3. Once sugar begins to bubble and caramelize, stir using a pot spoon until sugar develops a deep amber with slight blackjack colour.
4. Immediately add your seasoned chicken pieces to the pot and stir to allow caramelized sugar to evenly coat the chicken. Allow chicken to stew (brown) for 10 minutes.
5. Reduce heat to medium, add the rice, and mix thoroughly with chicken. Allow rice to parch or brown with the chicken to develop a nutty flavour and caramel colour for about 4 - 5 minutes.
6. Add pigeon peas followed by the garlic, onions, chives, pimentos, and pumpkin.
7. Add the coconut milk; cook up spice blend, cinnamon essence, casareep & enough water to cover the surface of the rice. Stir to distribute aromatics then add the whole pepper, cover, and bring a slow boil. ( About 8 - 10 minutes )
8. After this time, remove cover and add the carrots and the corn. Stir to combine and check the doneness of the rice at this point. If it’s a bit still hard or close to being done, gauge by adding a little more water and cover the pot; allowing it to cook for a few more minutes. However, if pelau is still moist with sufficient liquid and close to being done, then leave uncovered and allow excess water to evaporate.
9. Add the chadon beni, salted butter, and taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper as per your likeness and stir to ensure all ingredients are mixed well as this prevents the bottom from burning
10. Do this until you have reached your desired consistency.