Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge

Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge is a warm, creamy, and hearty breakfast with yellow cornmeal, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Sweetened with condensed milk and perfectly spiced, it’s a filling way to start your morning.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Breakfast & Brunch, Jamaican & Caribbean

Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican

Keyword: corn meal porridge, cornmeal porridge, cornmeal porridge recipe, cornmeal recipe, how to make cornmeal porridge, how to make Jamaican cornmeal porridge, jamaican cornmeal porridge

Servings: servings

Author: Taneisha Morris

Equipment

Medium Saucepan
Whisk
Wooden Spoon

Ingredients

3/4 cup Fine Yellow Cornmeal
1 1/2 cup Water
2 tbsp All Purpose Flour
3 cups Dairy Milk or milk alternative, divided, amount depends on desired consistency
1/4 tsp Nutmeg ground or freshly grated
1/2 Cinnamon Stick
1 Cinnamon Leaf optional
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Salt more or less to taste
3 tbsp Sweetened Condensed Milk or sugar, as desired

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, add water, cinnamon stick, and cinnamon leaf (optional) and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, nutmeg, salt, 2 cups milk, vanilla, and whisk until incorporated (it's okay if the cornmeal settles).
Gradually whisk the cornmeal mixture into the boiling water until all the mixture is in the pot. Do this slowly, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
Reduce heat to low once starting to thicken, and add remaining milk to the mixture (between half cup and a cup). Continue to whisk until milk combined, then switch to a wooden spoon once mixture thickens more (see notes section).
Allow porridge to simmer and continue to cook until the mixture thickens to desired consistency approx. 15-20 minutes. Adjust consistency with additional milk and/or water if needed. Remove from heat, sweeten as desired and enjoy!

Notes

Milk and Sugar - common ingredients are 2% or whole milk, sweeten with condensed milk to taste. This gives an irresistible creamy taste however you can achieve the same results using a milk alternative and coconut sugar.

Porridge Texture – this is determined by how consistently and quickly you whisk your porridge once the cornmeal mixture is poured into the pot of boiling water. Whisk constantly and rapidly for best results.

Porridge Consistency – you may not need to use the full amount of remaining milk or you may need more. Add as much as you need, to reach your desired consistency – thicker porridges need less liquid, thinner porridges need more.

Nutrition