Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Recipe

Cornmeal porridge is by far the most popular of all the porridges here in Jamaica. Like it’s name suggest, it is made from cornmeal and is one of the easiest porridge to prepare. 

It is absolutely delicious! And even better when prepared by grandma on the cold pot! Just imagine yourself in the Jamaican countryside… 

Seriously though, the cornmeal porridge isn’t complete without a slice of bread or excelsior water crackers!! 

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup refined cornmeal
• Sweetened condensed milk to taste
• Sugar to taste
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder (traditionally, cinnamon leaf is used and boiled in the water before cornmeal is added)
• Lasco Lasoy (optional)
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Add salt to 2 cups of water and set to boil on medium flame
2. Pour cornmeal and 1 cup of water in blender
   Note: I do this to break the cornmeal down a little more and make it easier and creamier when cooked. You can just chose to soak it, then mix, in a little water if you prefer.
3. Pour cornmeal and water mixture into boiling water and stir until it thickens
4. Put stove on lowest flame and stir thicken cornmeal for another minute or two. WARNING: Do not leave pot uncovered if you are stepping away from the stove, the  mixture will boil and shoot out like hot lava splattering and possibly burning you!
5. Turn off stove. Mix half pack Lasoy in small amount of water until its almost the same consistency of the condensed milk only a little more watery. 
6. Add Lasoy, vanilla, spices and sweeteners to the cornmeal and mix until all the ingredients are combined. 
7. Taste porridge to see if it is sweet enough for your liking, if not add more condensed milk or sugar

Jamaican Banana Porridge

Banana porridge (well to me) is like a delicacy here in Jamaica. This porridge is not prepared as often as the others.

But whenever banana porridge is prepared and prepared just right, it is my personal belief, that it beats all the other porridges buy a long shot!

Here’s my recipe!

Ingredients:

• 5 green Bananas
• Sweetened condensed milk to taste
• Sugar to taste
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• Cinnamon leaf
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 Cup flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp Coconut powder

Method:

1. Add salt and cinnamon leaf to 2 cups of water then set to boil on medium flame
2. Add 2 cups of water, green bananas, coconut powder and flour in blender and blend until smooth and creamy
3. Remove cinnamon leaf then add banana mixture to boiling water while stirring
4. Stir continuously until porridge thickens
5. Turn down flame to the lowest. Add spices and sweeteners to porridge and mix together until well blended then stir for another minute
6. Turn off flame. Serve hot and enjoy with bread or crackers while hot.

Jamaican Peanut Porridge

Peanut Porridge, Jamaican style, is very popular with the locals (especically the men) and is definitely a favorite!

You can find “porridge men” selling peanut porridge all over the major towns especially in the mornings.

Here’s my recipe!

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 Cups Raw Peanuts
• 1 Cup Oatmeal
• 1 tsp Cinnamon 
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• Sweetened Condensed Milk to taste
• Sugar to taste
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp Nutmeg
  
  

Method:

1. Add salt to 2 cups of water then set to boil on medium flame
2. Blend Oatmeal and raw peanut in blender in two cups of water
3. Pour mixture in boiling water while stirring. Stir until thicken n smooth 
4. Turn flame to the lowest and stir for another minute . Add Vanilla, spices and sweeteners to taste. Mix well. 
5. Stir for another two minutes. Turn off flame and serve hot with bread or crackers. 

Jamaican Rice Porridge

This is a rare one, certainly compared to the rest above, but this porridge it was one of my favorites growing up.

It is made with left over rice and is similar in taste to the hominy corn porridge. I thought I’d share it with you as another way to use up your left over rice. Here’s my recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup left over rice
• 1/2 Cup flour
• Sugar to taste
• Sweetened Condense Milk to taste
• 1 tsp Vanilla
•  1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder

Method:

1. Put left over rice in pot and add 1 1/2 cups of water then set to bowl on medium flame
2. Mix flour in 1 cup of water until there is no lump, then add to boiling water
3. Mix until mixture thickens
4. Turn flame to the lowest then add Vanilla, Spices and sweeteners.
5. Turn off flame. Serve and Enjoy while hot.
6. Also check out…
7. Hominy Corn Porridge
8. Plantain Porridge

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About The Author

A patriotic Jamaican who adores his culture, Wellesley has been using this medium to share what he calls 'the uniqueness of Jamaica with the world' since April 2007.  

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