Skip to Content

Authentic Jamaican Peanut Porridge Recipe

Authentic Jamaican Peanut Porridge Recipe

This authentic peanut porridge recipe has a big reputation since being upgraded from a modest staple of Jamaican cuisine to a culinary favorite of foodies across the planet. 

In fact, so popular is peanut porridge that it is now widely eaten across North America, particularly the US and the UK thanks to large Jamaican communities that have settled there over the past century.

Whilst exquisitely simple, peanut porridge is a breakfast dish that requires some love and attention to mimic the truly authentic Jamaican version.

What’s more is that it is a very healthy breakfast, being packed full of fibre, iron and protein, and all of the ingredients being completely vegetarian, making it popular with Rastafarians.

Authentic Jamaican peanut porridge recipe

Authentic Jamaican Peanut Porridge Recipe

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

This authentic peanut porridge recipe has a fantastic reputation since being upgraded from a modest staple of Jamaican cuisine to a culinary favourite of foodies across the planet.

Ingredients

  • Raw peanuts - 1 cup
  • Oatmeal - 1 cup
  • Cornmeal - 1 tbsp
  • Flour - 1 tbsp
  • Unsweetened Condensed Milk - 1/2 cup
  • Evaporated Milk - 1/2 cup
  • Cinnamon - 1/2 tsp
  • Nutmeg - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt - 1/2 tsp
  • Water - 2 cups
  • Vanilla extract - 2 drops

Instructions

  1. Blend the peanuts in to a fine powder using a blender. You can use a sieve to filter the mix even further.
  2. Take out the peanut powder and then blend the oatmeal in to a similarly fine powder.
  3. Next combine the peanut powder, the oatmeal powder, the cornmeal and the flour in a large bowl.
  4. Take your measured cups of water (2 or 3 depending on how thick you want the mixture) and slowly start adding the water to the mix whilst stirring.
  5. Place the mixture into a pan and put on a low to medium heat whilst stirring the mixture as it heats through. The consistency should be smooth and not lumpy.
  6. Leave to simmer for 10 minutes, waiting for the mixture to thicken, stirring occasionally.
  7. After 10 minutes, pour in the unsweetened condensed milk, the evaporated milk, the cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg and mix thoroughly.
  8. Cover the pan and leave to cook for a further 5 minutes on a low heat.
  9. Serve and wait to cool before eating.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 871Total Fat: 50gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 775mgCarbohydrates: 81gFiber: 9gSugar: 52gProtein: 33g

Feel free to add in different flavorings to suit your own tastes.

Watch: Making Peanut Porridge

Jamaica is not a big meat consuming country due to the vegetarian culture of Rastafarianism. Meaning that Caribbean vegetarian dishes are widely available throughout the country.

Close-by neighbor, Guyana, also has a lot of Caribbean influence which you will notice from their cuisine, such as their famous Pepperpot recipe (not vegetarian).

The best way to enjoy peanut porridge is, of course, by visiting Jamaica and buying it from a local restaurant. But f you’re not able to travel to Jamaica, hopefully this recipe brings a little bit of Caribbean life into your kitchen.

Share on Social:

Skip to Recipe