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Jamaican peanut porridge
Peanut porridge: ground peanuts and oats cooked with milk, nutmeg and vanilla
Before an early shift or a long day in the field, plenty of Jamaicans swear by peanut porridge, thick, nutty and filling enough to last until lunch; it is sold hot in cups from carts in downtown Kingston in the mornings. Roasted peanuts are blended with oats and water into a smooth paste, then cooked with milk until creamy and finished with nutmeg, vanilla and condensed milk. The mistake people make is cooking it over too high a heat, which scorches the bottom within minutes; peanuts burn easily, so stir and keep it at a simmer. This contains peanuts, milk and oats (gluten unless certified gluten-free). Chef's tip: toast the peanuts in a dry pan until they smell rich before blending, which deepens the flavour enormously.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz unsalted roasted peanutsskinned
- 2 ⅛ oz rolled oats
- 2 cups water
- 1 ¾ cups whole milk
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milkor to taste
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast 5 ½ oz unsalted roasted peanuts in a dry frying pan over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, shaking the pan, until fragrant and a shade darker.
4 minStep 2: Blend the peanuts and 2 ⅛ oz rolled oats with 2 cups water until very smooth, about 1 minute.
2 minStep 3: Pour into a saucepan with 1 ¾ cups whole milk, 1 pinch salt and 1 cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, as it thickens quickly.
5 minStep 4: Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring often and scraping the bottom, until thick and creamy and no longer tasting of raw oats.
10 minStep 5: Remove the cinnamon, stir in ¼ tsp grated nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla extract and ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk, and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jamaican peanut porridge take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of rolled oats?
- Quick oats, same amount.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
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