Recipe Card: Jamaican Stew Peas with Salted Pigtail
Creamy Jamaican stew peas with salted pigtail, coconut milk, thyme, and spinners — a deeply comforting Caribbean classic.
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Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 621kcal
Ingredients
Main Stew:
- 1 lb dried red kidney beans
- 2 - 2.5 lbs salted pigtail cut into pieces, boiled, rinsed and drained
- 10 - 12 cups water
- 1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
- 2 tbsp green seasoning optional
- 1 tbsp allspice pimento berries
- 6 cloves garlic
- 4 scallions chopped
- 6 sprigs thyme
- 1 whole hot pepper Scotch Bonnet or habanero
- 1 pimento seasoning pepper (optional)
- 1 cup coconut milk rich and creamy, otherwise use one can if lite
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Spinners:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Prepare the Pigtail — Rinse, desalt, and season: Rinse pigtail thoroughly under cold water. Optionally soak to reduce salt. Place in a large pot with water and boil 15–20 minutes. Drain, rinse again, then season with all-purpose seasoning and optional green seasoning.
- Prepare the Beans — Sort, rinse, and soak: Sort and rinse red kidney beans, removing any debris. Place in a bowl with 6 cloves garlic and enough water to cover (about 6 cups). Soak overnight. Drain and rinse before cooking.
- Start the Stew — Combine beans, pigtail, and water: Add soaked beans, seasoned pigtail, 12 cups water, and 1 tablespoon allspice berries to a large heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer Until Tender — Cook low and slow: Reduce heat to medium-low and partially cover the pot. Skim foam as needed. Simmer 60–75 minutes until beans and pigtail are tender.
- Add Coconut & Fresh Seasonings — Build flavor: Stir in coconut milk, scallions, thyme, hot pepper, and pimento pepper. Simmer an additional 30 minutes to thicken and develop flavor.
- Make the Spinners — Mix, roll, and shape: Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Add water gradually and knead to form a firm dough. Pinch small pieces and roll between palms to form slender spinners.
- Cook the Spinners — Drop and simmer: Drop the spinners into the bubbling stew. Make sure there’s enough liquid for them to cook freely — add a little more water if needed. Cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Final Seasoning — Taste and adjust: Taste and adjust salt and black pepper as needed. The stew should be thick, rich, and creamy, with tender beans and soft, flavorful pigtail.
Nutrition
Calories: 621kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 900mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 11mg