Sweet Creamy Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge
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This Jamaican cornmeal porridge is a creamy, sweet dish made with cornmeal, milk, condensed milk, and warm spices. I first discovered it at a Jamaican shop near our Brooklyn apartment and fell in love with it immediately. It was a Sunday morning staple. When I moved away from the U.S., they kindly shared their recipe with me, and it’s been a comforting reminder of those Sunday mornings ever since.
Serve this porridge hot in a bowl, optionally with a drizzle of condensed milk or a sprinkle of cinnamon. It works for breakfast, a late-night snack, or a light dessert.
How to Make Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge
This porridge is cooked slowly over low heat, starting with water and cornmeal to form a smooth base. Evaporated milk, condensed milk, and spices are stirred in gradually until thickened. A pat of butter is added at the end for richness.
You can adjust sweetness with more or less sugar or condensed milk, and add a pinch of allspice or freshly grated nutmeg for a deeper flavor.
Continue below for the full recipe with ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Recipe
Creamy, spiced cornmeal porridge with milk and condensed milk, perfect for a comforting breakfast or dessert.
Adjust sugar to taste depending on how sweet you like your porridge.
Fits vegetarian and gluten-free diets.
Ingredients
- 1 cup medium- or fine-ground cornmeal
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (or pinch of fresh nutmeg)
- 2 drops vanilla essence
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Bring water and salt to a gentle boil in a medium saucepan.
- Slowly whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to low.
- Stir in evaporated milk, condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Cook 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until thickened but still creamy.
- Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla.
- Serve hot with optional toppings like a drizzle of condensed milk or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Add a bit of water if it got too thick.
Do not freeze, texture may become grainy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 428Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 657mgCarbohydrates: 78gFiber: 5gSugar: 30gProtein: 9g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated. These figures should be considered estimates.
