Jamaican Stew Peas: An Authentic Comfort Food - A YouNique Journey (2024)

Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe is a delicious and perfect comfort food, that is made with red kidney beans, coconut milk, herbs & spices and spinners.

This Stew Peas Recipe can be made with meat or just vegetables with the beans.

In spite of the name Jamaican Stew Peas, it doesn’t have any peas in it, but red kidney beans.

Jamaicans don’t say the word beans, unless we are referring to baked beans, broad beans or butter beans.

Everything else is peas to us.

Originally, the beans (peas) are cooked from scratch, which takes some time or you can use canned beans to spend less time in the kitchen.

Altogether, I love stew peas, not because I am a Jamaican, but because beans add that hearty and fullness to a meal.

Yes, give me a good bean soup, which is kind of similar to stew peas and I will love you forever.

However, I hope you give this Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe a try and enjoy it just as much as I do.

What kind of meat to use?

In regards to the meat that’s use to make Jamaican Stew Peas, pigs tail is the first choice.

However, besides pigs tail, I have used corned pork, beef, chicken foot, and turkey neck.

You can even use chicken or turkey wings.

I have also seen oxtail used to make stew peas too.

If you are a vegetarian/vegan, you can try this recipe without the meat, or just by adding veggie chunks or tofu.

Also, you can add some diced carrots and potatoes along with the Spinners, to make it more filling.

What are Spinners?

The Spinners (Dumplings) are one of the key ingredients in the Jamaican Stew Peas.

It helps to thicken the dish as it simmers.

Without the spinners, it wouldn’t be Jamaican Stew Peas.

Pimento Seeds

Pimento seeds are a type of spice that can be found in Jamaica and in any other warm country.

It is also known as Allspice and it looks like black pepper berries.

It is used mostly on Pork, Chicken or Fish dishes and also in soups and stews.

They are picked when they are green and then dry in the sun on a piece of zinc sheet or a piece of cloth for a week or two.

I remember my uncle would spread out his pimento seeds to dry each day.

He would take them up as soon as the sun goes away in the evening or if the rain looks like it was going to fall.

After the pimento seeds are dried, he would bring them to the local market to be sold.

How to make Jamaican Stew Peas

Firstly, if you are using Corn Pork/Pigs Tail, boil the meat for some time in a separate pot, to get rid of all the salt. Then cook the red kidney beans (peas) in a separate pot. The Pig’s tail I used wasn’t the salty type, so I seasoned mine.

Secondly, I add some more water to the cooked Pig’s tail and peas and then add the coconut milk, scallion, thyme, bell pepper and onions.

Thirdly, allow the mixture to come to a boil, then add the spinners.

Finally, allow to simmer on low and then add a stalk of scallion. Let it to thicken to your desire. Adjust if needed with salt and black pepper and then you are ready to enjoy this delicious comfort food.

Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe

Ingredients

For the Jamaican Stew Peas:

• 1 to 2 lb pigs tail or stew beef, seasoned (if you choose to)
• 2 cups of dry red kidney beans
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 stalks of scallion (green onions), chopped
• 2 sprigs of thyme, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 10 pimento seeds, crushed or 1 tsp of allspice
• 8 cups of water
• 1 can of coconut milk
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Spinners (Recipe below)

For the Spinners (Dumplings)

• 1 cup of flour
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• Just about 1/3 cup of water

Instructions

To make Spinners (Dumplings)

1. In a small bowl, add the flour and salt and whisk it. Add the water a little at a time and knead to form a smooth dough. Cover and Set aside for later to add to the Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe.

To make Jamaican Stew Peas

1. Rinse the beans with some water and drain. Put the beans in a large pot/skillet with the garlic, pimento berries or allspice, pig’s tail and 6 cups of water. Let it cook until both beans and meat are tender, just about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
2. Add the onion, 2 stalks of scallion, thyme, bell pepper, 2 cups of water, can of milk and bring it to a boil.
3. Break apart the dough into small pieces and roll between your palms, to make spinner (dumplings) and add to the pot. Add the scotch bonnet pepper or red pepper flakes and black pepper. Continue to stir the mixture, so the spinners won’t stick to the bottom of the pot as it cooks.
4. Allow to simmer on medium-low for about 40 minutes or until it thickens to your desire. Stir to make sure nothing is sticking at the bottom but be careful not to burst the scotch bonnet pepper.
5. After about 30 minutes of cooking on medium-low, add the remaining 1 stalk of scallion (chopped) and stir. Turn the heat on semi-low.
6. Taste and see if it’s to your desire. If it is not to your desire, add some salt. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper and thyme from the pot before serving. Best served with some white rice. Enjoy.

Notes:

1. Not everyone use coconut milk in their Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe. I used it because of the flavor it gives and it helps to thicken the sauce. Others mix a small amount of flour with water and add to the liquid to thicken the sauce.
2. Avoid bursting the scotch bonnet pepper while stirring.
3. Please remove the thyme and scotch bonnet pepper before serving.

If you are looking for a healthier version, her is the Vegan Version to it.

Please let me know what you think about this recipe, Jamaican Stew Peas, in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again.

Blessings and Love, as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Jamaican Stew Peas is a delicious and perfect comfort food, that is made with red kidney beans, coconut milk, herbs & spices and spinners.

Ingredients

For Jamaican Stew Peas

• 1 to 2 lb pigs tail or stew beef, seasoned (if you choose to)
• 2 cups of dry red kidney beans
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 stalks of scallion (green onions), chopped
• 2 sprigs of thyme, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 10 pimento seeds, crushed or 1 tsp of allspice
• 8 cups of water
• 1 can of coconut milk
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Spinners (Recipe below)

For Spinners (Dumplings)

• 1 cup of flour
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• Just about 1/3 cup of water

Instructions

How to make Spinners (Dumpling)

1. In a small bowl, add the flour and salt and whisk it. Add the water a little at a time and knead to form a smooth dough. Cover and Set aside for later to add to the Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe.

How to make Jamaican Stew Peas

1. Rinse the beans with some water and drain. Put the beans in a large pot/skillet with the garlic, pimento berries or allspice, pig's tail and 6 cups of water. Let it cook until both beans and meat are tender, just about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
2. Add the onion, 2 stalks of scallion, thyme, bell pepper, 2 cups of water, can of milk and bring it to a boil.
3. Break apart the dough into small pieces and roll between your palms, to make spinner (dumplings) and add to the pot. Add the scotch bonnet pepper or red pepper flakes and black pepper. Continue to stir the mixture, so the spinners won't stick to the bottom of the pot as it cooks.
4. Allow to simmer on medium-low for about 40 minutes or until it thickens to your desire. Stir to make sure nothing is sticking at the bottom but be careful not to burst the scotch bonnet pepper.
5. After about 30 minutes of cooking on medium-low, add the remaining 1 stalk of scallion (chopped) and stir. Turn the heat on semi-low.
6. Taste and see if it's to your desire. If it is not to your desire, add some salt. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper and thyme from the pot before serving. Best served with some white rice. Enjoy.

Notes

1. Not everyone use coconut milk in their Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe. I used it because of the flavor it gives and it helps to thicken the sauce. Others mix a small amount of flour with water and add to the liquid to thicken the sauce.
2. Avoid bursting the scotch bonnet pepper while stirring.
3. Please remove the scotch bonnet pepper and thyme before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 521Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 241mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 41g

The nutritional information that is provided, is computer generated and therefore it is an estimate. Please do your own research with the ingredients that are listed here, if you have any concern about any specific diet or your health.