Beef Pelau

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs Beef
1 lb Rice
800 Grams Pigeon Peas
50 Grams Coconut Milk
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Peanut Oil
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
15 Finely Chopped Pimentos (Seeds Optional)
1/2 lb Onions
1 Bundle of Chive
2 Bundles of Chadon Beni or 10-12 Leaves (Culantro)
1 Bundle of Thyme
5 Garlic Cloves
1/2 lb Pumpkin
1/8 Cup Soy Sauce (Optional)
2 Tbsp Golden Ray (Vegetable Cooking Butter)
1 Hot Pepper
Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)

METHOD

Cut and trim beef to desired size ensuring to remove connective tissue.
Clean, wash, drain and set beef aside.
Finely chop onion, pimento, chive, chadon beni and garlic.
Put beef in a bowl and season with salt and black pepper.
Add onion, pimento, chive, chadon beni and garlic and thyme leaves to beef.
Massage ingredients into beef until well incorporated.
Let marinate for 4-6 hours in refrigerator.
Heat pot over high heat.
Add oil and brown sugar.
As soon as sugar begins to melt stir constantly until all the sugar is dissolved.
(this ensures the sugar from burning and tasting bitter)
Add beef to pot and stir until well coated with melted sugar.
Cover and allow beef to brown for 10 minutes.
Add rice, pumpkin, coconut milk, peas and golden ray ensuring to mix until well incorporated.
Add enough water to cover.
Place whole pepper in center of pot.
Reduce heat to medium to low and let cook 30-45 minutes or until rice is fully cooked.
(checking every 15 minutes)
Remove whole pepper.
Check for salt and black pepper and add to taste.