In Memory Of Karen Nicole Smith, 1972 - 2016

Stewed Dry Pigeon Peas Recipe.


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TinTin (Christina), my dad’s mom guarded her dried pigeon peas like they do gold at Ft Knox. It was common knowledge that if peas were out of season, she had some stored in airtight bottles somewhere in the dimly lit-smoky kitchen of hers. I still recall the scent of that kitchen, a mixture of the musty tobacco she always had drying in the ceilings and the smoke from the different types of hard-wood she would use to fire-up the coal pot she would use to to cook her meals. Not to mention the actual smoke from the pipe she smoked all her life! To this day, I’m still to taste a stewed dried pigeon peas like the stew this woman would make on that coal pot, in that simple kitchen.

Since I never have enough time to cook the dried peas as is needed… in this recipe we’ll use the canned stuff and drastically cut back on the cooking time. So students, busy individuals or maybe you’re just lazy (smart) and want to eat well, you’ll find this recipe very handy.

You’ll Need…

1 Can dry Pigeon peas (540 ml / 19 fl oz)
2 scallions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 med tomato
1 cup diced bell pepper
1 scotch bonnet pepper (keep whole)
1 med onion
2 cloves garlic
3 sprigs thyme
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon parsley
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water

optional – grated ginger – diced carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato

Note: If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs (especially the Worcestershire sauce)

jamaican stewed peas (1)Prep all the ingredients (chop/dice the peppers, tomatoes, scallions, celery, onion, parsley, garlic.. but do keep the scotch bonnet pepper whole) By keeping the Scotch Bonnet whole we’ll get the flavor from the oils and not the raw heat..unless you want the raw heat, then you’d break it open as it cooks. Now heat the olive oil on a medium flame (I used a non stick pan so I use less oil), then add the celery, garlic, tomato, parsley, thyme, onion, black pepper and scallions. Turn the heat down to low and let it gently cook for about 3-5 mins.

jamaican stewed peas (3)Drain and rinse the dried pigeon peas (aka Congo pea, gungo pea, gunga pea, fio-fio, no-eye pea) so you remove most of the brine/sodium it’s packed in, then add it to the pan. Turn the heat up to med/high.

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Add the rest of the ingredients and bring it up to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer (remember to add the scotch bonnet whole and try to NOT break it open) and let it cook for about 15 minutes. Taste for salt and adjust at this point – I added a pinch as I find that he peas is usually high in salt and can almost be enough to season this dish. but your tolerance for salt will be different than mine. If you wanted to add some additional body to this stewed peas dish or just stretch it a bit you can add some diced potato, sweet potato or diced pumpkin when you added the peas to the pot. You’ll then need to add a bit more liquid and obviously adjust the salt.

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If you find that the gravy is a bit thin (remember as it cools it will thicken a bit) you can use the back of your spoon to crush them a bit and it will help to thicken things up.

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If you’re wondering why if my grandmother’s name is Christina (yea, I’m Christopher and my sister is Christine.. my daughter is Christyon), why did I call her TinTin? Good question.. to this day, that’s just the name everyone in our village calls her and to be honest, I have no clue why. If you’re from the Caribbean, chances are at some point in your life you’ve had a nickname.. I’ve had over 15 so far.

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Jamaican Stewed Dry Pigeon Peas Recipe.
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3 Comments

  1. R
    February 23, 2017 / 1:29 pm

    If using dry peas (not canned) how do you suggest going about this???

    • Malika
      August 30, 2018 / 6:39 pm

      U just have to soak it in water overnight, and it would also definitely need some pressure cooking..

  2. Dave Riley
    August 28, 2015 / 6:40 pm

    We love this dish in Queensland Australia. Enough to plant out pigeon peas in the garden and put them to work.
    What a plant! Attracts Native Stingless Bees, harvest long time fresh or dried on the branch. Because of the long tap root, inter crops with so many other veg…
    See the exchanges:Pigeon Pea Adventures…Pigeon Pea groupies.
    It also happens that my son’s wonderful partner was born in Trinidad and she mentors me.Her dad even ran a Caribbean restaurant many moons ago in Melbourne. who woulda thought?
    Next week I start putting a Triny Kitchen Garden together for her? Any suggestion as to plant essentials? Celery, Pigeon peas, Parsely, Corander,Thyme, Peppers, Tomatoes, Spring onions….
    But I gotta say this, Chis: I think your approach to cooking has so much soul…It is core home cookin’ that speaks across the generations of stove top creativity.
    The way I like it.
    After decades of exploring so many cuisines my soul seems to reside on the Caribbean table ( Cuban food notwithstanding) …

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