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Jamaican Stew Peas

Jamaican Stew Peas

Cuisine:Jamaican

Course:Dinner

20m prep 3h cook 3h ready

4 to 6 servings You may also use two 15-ounce cans kidney or red beans instead of dried beans. If using canned beans, start the recipe at the meat-browning step. For a vegetarian dish that showcases many of the same flavors, see Jamaican Rice and Peas.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1½ cups dried small red beans, or kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
  • One 13½-ounce can coconut milk
  • 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, minced
  • 3 sprigs thyme
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • Cooked white rice
  • Chopped cilantro

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 1½ cups dried small red beans, or kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
  • One 13½-ounce can coconut milk
  • 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, minced
  • 3 sprigs thyme
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • Cooked white rice
  • Chopped cilantro

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Add to a pot along with 8 cups water: 1½ cups dried small red beans, or kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and picked over

  2. Step 2.

    Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender, 1 to 1 ½ hours. Drain, reserving 4 cups of the bean cooking liquid.

  3. Step 3.

    Heat in a large saucepan over medium heat: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  4. Step 4.

    Add, in batches if necessary, and brown on all sides: 1 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes

  5. Step 5.

    Add and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes: 1 large onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, smashed; 1 teaspoon salt

  6. Step 6.

    Add the cooked beans and the reserved cooking liquid (or, if using canned beans, 4 cups water) along with: 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed; One 13½-ounce can coconut milk; 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, minced; 3 sprigs thyme; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ teaspoon ground allspice

  7. Step 7.

    Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the pork is tender and the stew is thick, about 1 ½ hours. Serve with: Cooked white rice; Chopped cilantro

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