Dinner

Red Peas Soup

Name: Red Peas Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 245 min
Total time: 265 min
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 2 cups dried kidney beans, dried; 1 large large carrot, large; 2 spring onions, chopped; 4 sprigs thyme; 1 onion, diced; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 red peppers, chopped; 4 cloves garlic, mashed; 1 tbs allspice; 2 lbs beef; 2 L water; 4 potatoes; 1 cup plain flour; 1/4 cup water; 1 cup coconut milk; salted pigtail, cut into 2-inch pieces, as needed

A hearty Jamaican-style soup of kidney beans, beef, vegetables, coconut milk, and homemade spinner dumplings.

4 hr 25 min
500 kcal
Jamaican
Soup

Mellowpan tip: Makes 8 servings. Plan the extras as tomorrow’s lunch.

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Ingredients

For 8 servings

Steps

Step 1:
Wash and rinse the dried kidney beans. Cover them with plenty of water in a deep bowl, allowing room for them to expand to at least triple their original size. Soak overnight, or for at least 2 hours, then discard the soaking water.
2 h
Step 2:
Have the butcher cut the salted pigtail into 2-inch pieces, as it is difficult to cut with an ordinary kitchen knife.
Step 3:
Wash the salted pigtail. Place it in a deep pot with water and bring to a boil; cook for 20 minutes, then drain and rinse.
20 min
Step 4:
Repeat the boiling process in fresh water to help tenderize the pigtail and remove most of the salt used in curing it.
Step 5:
To start the soup, place all the ingredients except the flour and potatoes in a pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 6:
As the soup comes to a boil, skim off and discard any scum or froth from the top. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the beans are tender and starting to fall apart.
1 h
Step 7:
Add the potatoes, any optional yams, and the coconut milk. Continue cooking for 15 minutes.
15 min
Step 8:
Make the spinner-dumpling dough by mixing the flour and water, adding a pinch of salt if desired, until a soft, smooth dough forms.
Step 9:
Let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Pinch off about a tablespoon at a time and roll each piece between your hands into a cigarette shape.
5 min
Step 10:
Add the dumplings to the pot, stir well, and cook at a rolling boil for another 15 minutes.
15 min
Step 11:
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed; no additional salt may be necessary because of the salted pigtail. The cooking sequence is 1 hour and 15 minutes for the base, 15 minutes after adding the potatoes, and a further 15 minutes after adding the dumplings.
1 h
Step 12:
Let the soup cool slightly, as it will thicken considerably. Freeze leftovers and reheat them another day if desired.