Porridge is popular worldwide; it is eaten plain with a little honey or syrup in England. Italians eat it with brown butter and cinnamon sugar. In China, they eat a porridge made from rice called congee, which differs from oat porridge.
Jamaican porridge is sweet, smooth, and spiced with whole grated nutmeg and cinnamon. This porridge is sometimes made with cornmeal as it is smooth in texture. Cornmeal porridge is recommended by doctors in Jamaica for babies as their first food after milk. Porridge originated in Scotland to be eaten during the cold months. It was brought to Africa by Scottish migrants, and the people of jamaica made regular porridge special. This recipe serves 4.
Ingredients
- Porridge oats (150g)
- Milk (600ml)
- Condensed milk or evaporated milk (400g)
- Ground nutmeg (1/2 tsp)
- Almond essence (1 tsp)
- Vanilla essence (1 tsp)
- Ground cinnamon (1/2 tsp)
- Salt (1/2 tsp)
Method
Pour 600 ml of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce the heat. Add the oats and 200 ml of the milk to a bowl, give it a mix then transfer to the blender and blitz until smooth.
Slowly add the oat mixture to the pan stirring constantly for about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the milk, the condensed milk, ground nutmeg, almond essence, vanilla essence, cinnamon and salt and heat for a few minutes and serve warm.
Jamaican Porridge: Frequently asked questions
Is Jamaican Porridge healthy?
Due to the high sugar from the condensed milk, Jamaican porridge is not considered the healthiest, however you can change the amounts to reduce the sugar and use a lower fat milk to make it healthier.
What is the history of Jamaican Porridge?
There are different varieties of porridge all around the world. The first porridge to ever exist came from China in the form of rice porridge and quinoa porridge. After that porridge from oats was created in Scotland. Jamaican porridge was invented and passed down to the Caribbean during slavery times.
How long can I store Jamaican Porridge?
You can store Jamaican porridge for up to three days in the refrigerator however it is best eaten on the day that it is prepared to enjoy it at its best.
Is Jamaican Porrridge Vegan?
As Jamaican porridge contains condensed milk it is not suitable for vegans. You can make a dairy free alternative by using a plant based milk instead of cows milk.
