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Pelau
Blend the green seasoning ingredients to a rough paste. Mix with the chicken and leave at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Pelau take?
2 hr 15 min all in — 25 min prep, 50 min cook, 1 hr rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 6 plates. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Mild.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Dairy-free, Gluten-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
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What equipment do I need?
Dutch oven, Chef's knife, Blender.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 2 tsp.
How much brown sugar?
3 tbsp of Brown sugar.
What can I use instead?
Pigeon peas → Black-eyed peas or kidney beans. Both are used in Trinidad when gandules are short.
What should I watch for?
Stand back when the chicken goes in; the sugar spits. If the sugar smokes black before the chicken is in, start again. Bitter is wrong.
Any tips from this recipe?
Parboiled rice is what most Trinidadian cooks use because it stays separate. Long grain works; rinse it well. The bottom is meant to catch a little. The brown crust, called bun-bun, is a prize. Beef pelau with stewing beef is just as traditional. Brown it the same way and add 30 minutes of simmering before the rice.
Can I prepare this ahead?
Blend the green seasoning ingredients to a rough paste. Mix with the chicken and leave at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.