Guyanese Cook-Up Rice with Chicken, Black-Eyed Peas and Coconut
A Guyanese Saturday one pot of rice, chicken and black-eyed peas simmered in coconut milk, stock and thyme.
Made with Homemade chicken stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 5
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.89 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Season the chicken with half the salt and the allspice. Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over a medium-high heat and brown the chicken for 6 minutes.
6 min - 2
Add the onion, half the spring onion and the garlic and cook for 4 minutes until soft.
4 min - 3
Stir in the rice for 1 minute. Pour in the coconut milk, your ready made homemade chicken stock (see the base recipe) and the water. Add the thyme, Scotch bonnet and remaining salt.
- 4
Bring to a simmer, cover and cook on the lowest heat for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
15 min - 5
Stir in the black-eyed peas, cover and cook for 10 more minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
20 min - 6
Remove the thyme stalks and Scotch bonnet, fluff with a fork and scatter over the remaining spring onion.
Tips
- Cook-up is meant to be soft and moist, and a little sticky. Do not rinse the rice more than once.
- Leave the Scotch bonnet whole so the dish is aromatic but not too hot.
- Tinned black-eyed peas save hours. If using dried, soak overnight and boil for 40 minutes first.
- Stir only once after adding the liquid. Too much stirring makes the rice gluey.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours. Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat once only until steaming hot all the way through, adding a splash of water, as rice can carry harmful bacteria if left warm.
Questions
What is cook-up rice?
Cook-up rice is a Guyanese one pot of rice, beans or peas and meat cooked together in coconut milk. It is traditionally made on Saturdays and uses whatever meat and peas are to hand.
Can I make cook-up rice vegan?
Yes. Leave out the chicken, use homemade vegetable stock, and add diced pumpkin or extra peas. It stays rich thanks to the coconut milk.
Is it gluten free?
Yes. It contains rice, coconut milk, peas, chicken, stock and seasoning, and no wheat. It is also dairy free and egg free.
More made with homemade chicken stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
