Jamaican Stew Peas Recipe | Smoked Turkey Neck & Pigtail | Authentic Caribbean Cooking

pigtail

🥗Healthier: smoked turkey

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Smoked turkey provides a leaner option, while pork shoulder is more affordable.

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: light coconut milk

💰Cheaper: evaporated milk

Light coconut milk reduces calories, while evaporated milk is less expensive.

Boil the pigtail and turkey neck for about 20 minutes to remove salt.

Continue boiling the turkey neck for roughly half an hour.

Taste the water to ensure it's not salty; if it is, you can boil it again.

Pour off the water from the boiled meat.

Add salt to the pot along with red kidney beans.

Crush 4 cloves of garlic and add them to the pot.

Add about 15 crushed pimento seeds to the pot.

Pour in enough boiling water to cover the meat and beans.

Cook on the stovetop or in a pressure pot until the peas and meat are tender.

Check the meat and peas for tenderness using a fork.

Add scallions and thyme to the pot.

Add a scotch bonnet pepper to the pot.

Instead of coconut milk, add butter to the pot.

Sprinkle in some white pepper; black pepper can be used if white is unavailable.

Add a little Maggi jerk seasoning.

Stir the pot gently to combine the ingredients without breaking the meat too much.

Cover the pot and let it cook.

Prepare dumplings by rubbing the dough together and stretching it before dropping them into the pot.

Make four dumplings and add them to the pot.

Use a spatula to move the meat around gently.

Taste the stew to see if it needs more salt before it thickens.

Cover the pot and allow the stew to thicken before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: