Easy Caribbean carrot rice recipe
Caribbean carrot rice is a simple, flavorful rice dish made with grated carrots, aromatics, and warm spices. It’s cooked in one pot, making it easy enough for everyday meals and flexible enough to serve as a side or a main. This carrot rice recipe is especially popular in Caribbean kitchens as a way to dress up plain rice without much effort. Even the kids love it.
It’s a one-pot dish made with tender rice, sweet grated carrots, and warming spices like turmeric and black pepper. It can be made in one pot, making it really easy to make for the whole family to enjoy.
This rice is a versatile dish and works well as a whole dish or a side dish for stew lamb or other meats.
Since we sometimes get tired of plain rice, I wanted to share with you this incredibly delicious dish and help you create carrot rice at home.
What is carrot rice?
Carrot rice is a rice dish cooked with fresh carrots, aromatics, and seasoning. In Caribbean-style carrot rice, grated carrots are steamed directly with the rice, allowing their natural sweetness to flavor the dish while giving it a warm orange color.
The rice is typically cooked with oil, garlic, onions or shallots, and spices like turmeric and black pepper. Some variations also include cumin, coriander, sweet peppers, pigeon peas, or coconut milk.
The finished dish is lightly sweet, savory, and aromatic. It’s most often served as a side dish for curries, stews, or grilled meats, though many people enjoy it as a simple meal on its own.
How to make Caribbean carrot rice
Ingredients needed
First of all, it is a good idea to ensure that you can get all of the ingredients together. Focusing on this first means that the cooking process will be simple. You will need:
The base
- Parboiled rice. Long-grain, partially boiled rice that holds up well during cooking
- Carrots. Grated. About 2 medium carrots
Aromatics
- Shallots
- Onion
- Garlic cloves
- Scallions
Seasoning and flavor
- Turmeric
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Scotch bonnet
For cooking
- Coconut oil or olive oil
- Water
Instructions
Once your ingredients are ready, let’s start cooking!
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, shallots, half of the scallions, and hot pepper. Sauté until softened, stirring so nothing sticks.
- Stir in the raw rice and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring continuously to coat the grains.
- Add the grated carrots, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Mix well so everything is evenly combined.
- Pour in enough water to reach the same level as the rice.
- Add the remaining scallions, reduce the heat to low, cover with the lid, and simmer until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff the carrot rice with a fork and serve. Such a beautiful color. Use some chopped scallions to garnish.
Recipe notes and tips
- Use just enough water to cook the rice. Too much liquid can leave the carrot rice mushy or waterlogged.
- Grated carrots cook quickly and blend into the rice. If chopping instead, keep the pieces small and allow extra cooking time.
- Adjust the heat by reducing or omitting the hot pepper, or increasing it if you prefer more spice.
- This recipe doubles well and is great for batch cooking.
Flavor variations & add-ins
Once you’re comfortable with the base recipe, here are a few easy ways to switch it up:
- Make it using leftover rice and treat it like a carrot fried rice instead. Cook the carrots and seasoning first, then stir in the rice.
- Add fresh herbs or spices such as chadon beni, coriander, or bay leaf.
- Swap the rice. Brown rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice all work, though cooking times may vary.
- Turn it into a main dish by adding protein like cooked chicken, shrimp, or prawns after the rice is fluffed.
- Add vegetables like bell peppers, sweet corn, mushrooms, or zucchini.
- Sprinkle in roasted nuts for extra texture. Some love to have cashews
Serving suggestion
This Caribbean carrot rice is flavorful enough to enjoy on its own, but it also works well as a side dish. Serve it with stewed meats like lamb, steak or chicken, pan-fried fish, or other seafood dishes. Its mild sweetness and warm spices make it an easy match for bold flavors.
Storage & Reheating
Allow leftover carrot rice to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for up to five days.
Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a small splash of water when reheating to restore moisture. This dish can also be frozen for longer storage.
More flavorful rice recipes
Tried this best carrot rice recipe? Let me know in the comments what you paired it with or how you made it your own! And rate it in my recipe card!
Easy carrot rice recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Wash and scrape the carrots, then grate them on the fine side of the grater and set aside.
- On medium heat, heat the coconut oil till warmed through, add shallots, pepper, and half of the chopped scallions, and saute till opaque.
- Add rice to the dish, and stir for a couple of minutes to get the rice toasted.
- Add carrots, turmeric, and seasonings to the pot.
- Then add water and give it a good mix.
- Add the remaining scallions to the dish and cover.
- Lower heat to simmer and simmer till rice is cooked and water is absorbed.
- Fluff up rice once completed and taste for any additional salt if needed.
Nutrition
Recipe Printed From ThisBagoGirl.com
