Porridge has been used as a breakfast staple for centuries.
The most commonly known breakfast porridge is pain oats in milk. Despite the fact that porridge is healthy, people find it bland or boring! How about I share with you are porridge recipe that is anything but boring!
The Jamaican peanut porridge is not just a delicious breakfast bowl but is also full of health and nutrients. If you want to kick start your day with a flavorsome portion of a healthy breakfast, I suggest you try this recipe!
What is Peanut Porridge?
Peanut porridge is a Jamaican breakfast porridge that is made from peanuts. It is delicious, exquisite, and sweet. Above all, it is very easy to make and offers several health benefits. Peanut porridge is a staple to the Jamaican lands. As you stroll across the streets in the morning, you will find several vendors preparing their stalls of peanut porridge. It is among the most loved breakfast of the local people and why totally understand why! This porridge is unique and a delicious take on traditional oats porridge.
Why should you eat peanut porridge?
Now, if you are wondering what's special about his Jamaican porridge, I'd say there is a lot! Here are a few reasons you should start eating peanut porridge right now!
It is vegan! (when sweetened with coconut condensed milk, or just some brown sugar)
It is very delicious.
It is gluten-free.
It is easy to make.
It is not high in “bad” fats.
It makes you feel fuller for longer.
It is a great source of energy and protein.
Should You Soak Peanuts?
Soaking peanuts is not compulsory. Because peanut porridge has several variations, people often use the same ingredients in different ways to prepare the porridge. Some people like to soak the peanuts for about an hour and then blend it. But it is not compulsory. You can pulse raw peanuts without soaking them directly into the blender if you want to keep them chunky. However, if you don't want the chunky texture, it is better to soak it up for an hour or two. This way, as you blend them, the paste will be smoother.
Benefits of Peanuts
Here are a few amazing benefits of peanuts that you should know off:
Peanuts are rich in protein.
They are rich in fats. Here, you must know that fats are of two types: good fats and bad fats. Bad fats are not healthy for your body, whereas good fats help in lowering the cholesterol levels in your body, thus improve your heart health.
Peanuts help in controlling the blood sugar level in your body. Because they are low in glycemia, they reduce the risk of diabetes.
Peanuts are a source of minerals like folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper.
They are also rich in Vitamin B1, B3, and E. These vitamins improve the functioning of the body and protect it from diseases.
Ingredient breakdown
Peanut porridge is pretty simple to make. Furthermore, the ingredients are quite basic as well. Every ingredient is readily available at any store, so you don't have to look far if you want to try it. Here is everything you need for this porridge:
Peanuts: Peanuts are the hero of this porridge. For this recipe, I use raw peanuts. You can either crush them roughly to get a chunky texture or ground them to get a fine powder. It depends upon your liking.
Coconut Milk: Because it is a vegan dish, we are using coconut milk. Coconut milk is known for its slightly sweet flavor, richness, and creamy texture. However, you can also use almond or soy milk for the purpose. But I would recommend you stick to coconut milk.
Cornmeal: Cornmeal brings in thickness. It sets the base for the porridge. You can also use oats instead of cornmeal.
Spices: Cinnamon leaves and nutmeg are among the few spices that are most widely used in Jamaican dishes. These not just bring aroma but also adds subtle flavor to the dish.
Condensed milk: to add sweetness to the porridge, coconut condensed milk is used. It is among the most widely used sweeteners and is an amazing ingredient.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Peanut Porridge
Although making peanut porridge is straightforward, here are a few things you should keep in mind when making it:
Make sure you stir the porridge constantly; otherwise, it will get lumpy.
If you like the chunky texture of peanuts, you can pulse them with water just once in the blender to break them slightly. However, if you don't like the chunky texture, you can blend them to get a powder or paste.
You can add condensed milk according to your taste.
If you want a sugar-free porridge, you can use sweeteners like stevia or xylitol instead of coconut condensed milk.
You can adjust the consistency of the porridge according to your liking. If you find it too thick for your liking, simply add a splash of water.
If you really love the flavor of peanut, you can add a few tablespoons of peanut butter to it as well.
Variations of Porridge
As you move across the country, you will find several variations of the peanut porridge. Here are a few ingredients you can add or change to make your peanut porridge more interesting:
Most people switch cornmeal with plain flour or oats. If you are using oats, blend them dry to convert them into powdered form.
Some people use raw green bananas or plantain instead of oats or cornmeal.
You can also soak peanuts for about an hour before blending them.
For those who are allergic to peanuts, you can also use almonds instead of peanuts.
So, what are you waiting for? Indulge in the deliciousness of peanuts and incorporate this healthy breakfast porridge into your daily routine.
In Photo: Raw Peanuts, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Fine Cornmeal (Polenta), Vanilla Extract, Fresh Nutmeg, Dried Jamaican Cinnamon Leaves.
If you prefer a smooth porridge, blend the peanuts until no chunks are visible.
They are used to flavor stews, pilafs, and curries and are often substituted for bay leaves in many recipes.
How to Make Porridge Vegan?
Substitute sweetened condensed milk for vegan coconut condensed milk.
Peanuts are not naturally starchy, so to thicken my porridge I usually add cornmeal.
The more cornmeal you add, the thicker the porridge gets so be careful when it comes to the consistency of the porridge.
Chunky Jamaican Peanut Porridge
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Raw Peanut
- 2 Cups Water
- 2 Cups Coconut Milk
- 2 Cinnamon Leaves
- ⅓ Cup Cornmeal
- ½ Teaspoon Nutmeg Grated
- 1 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
- ½ Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
Instructions
- Using a blender, pulse the raw peanut and water, just breaking the peanut kernel to create a chunky feel.
- Once pulsed, pour the peanut and water mixture along with the cornmeal into a medium saucepan.
- Add coconut milk, cinnamon leaves, nutmeg and salt and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes. Once simmering, continue stirring to prevent any lumps.
- Once the cornmeal is cooked and the porridge becomes thick, add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Stir to combine and evenly distribute the condensed milk to sweeten the porridge.
Calories
486.03
Fat (grams)
42.97
Sat. Fat (grams)
24.06
Carbs (grams)
20.59
Fiber (grams)
4.59
Net carbs
16.00
Sugar (grams)
4.42
Protein (grams)
12.97
Sodium (milligrams)
223.34
Cholesterol (grams)
1.62
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