Vegan Jamaican Stew Peas (Ital Stew)

JERK TAVERNApril 5, 2023

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Ital Stew Peas is a vegan recipe made with red kidney beans, and vegetables cooked in coconut milk. The most popular way to cook stew peas is with meat like pork, smoked turkey neck, or salted beef. But if you eliminate the meat you get the perfect vegan stew peas that are jam-packed with plenty of protein. Vegan stew peas wouldn’t be the same without those little dumplings we call “spinners”. Use dry kidney beans, as the dish will taste better and have a vibrant beautiful red color. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, it will take more time to cook the beans. Soaking the beans overnight will help speed up the beans’ cooking process.

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Table of Contents

What is the history of stew peas?

The meal’s origins are Jamaican; in “Caribbean Cooking,” John DeMers even refers to stew peas as the country’s national dish though we all know it to be ackee and saltfish. Kidney beans called red peas are known in Jamaica, are cooked down and mellowed with coconut milk and delicious spices and aromatics, then stewed with beef, pork, or even vegetarian alternatives.

What are stew peas made of?

Stew peas is a Jamaican stew dish prepared using coconut milk, gungo peas (pigeon peas) or red peas (kidney beans), uncured meats, and salted meats such as pork and beef as primary ingredients or vegetables if you’re making it vegan, some even use salt fish as a pescatarian option. Additional ingredients can include onion, garlic, scallions, pigtail, herbs, and spices.

What is a Jamaican stew called?

We would say a Jamaican stew can mean many things because many of our dishes are stewed. Whether it’s stew peas, stew chicken, brown stew fish, or stew pork, a Jamaican stew can be any of the following meals that were mentioned.

Why do Jamaicans call red beans peas?

Dried beans are known as peas, which is why some people call this dish rice and peas and others know it as beans and rice. Many Jamaican Rice dishes like rice and peas or gungo rice and peas, soups, and stew peas are made with either pigeon peas (known as gungo peas in Jamaica) or dried kidney beans. Red kidney bean: Use dry kidney beans, as the dish will taste better and have a vibrant beautiful red color. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, it will take more time to cook the beans. Soaking the beans overnight will help to cook the beans more quicker.

Can diabetics eat stew peas?

Yes, peas contain carbohydrates, but they can still be part of a diabetes eating plan. The fiber and protein content of peas is thought to help slow digestion, which, in turn, can help smooth out blood sugar levels after eating. Peas also rank low on the glycemic index scale, with a glycemic index of 22.

How do you remove salt from stew peas?

Using potatoes will suck out the excess salinity. You can put chunks of par-cooked potatoes in, let the dish simmer for a few minutes, and taste.

Wha side is best with stew peas?

White Rice

Plantain

Vegetable

Ingredients for Jamaican Vegan Stew Peas

Fresh coconut milk: Trust me when I say fresh coconut milk is best for this stew peas dish. But, you can use tin coconut milk if you don’t have fresh coconut milk.
Onion: Use any onion you have.
Aromatics and Spices: Pimento (allspice), thyme, garlic, scallion, black pepper, salt, complete seasoning, and scotch bonnet pepper.
Plain flour: To make the small dumplings called spinners that go into this dish.
Vegetables: Potatoes, Carrots
Kidney Beans: It’s called vegan stew peas you need them to complete the dish.

How to make Jamaican Vegan Stew Peas

In a bowl add the peas with enough water to cover them and leave them to soak overnight or for several hours.
The next day, discard the water and rinse the peas.
Add the peas to a large saucepan with the 6 cups of water along with the garlic and onions and tied thyme sprigs, and pimento berries.
Bring to a boil then reduce to medium heat, place the lid half on, and simmer for roughly an hour or until peas are soft ( keep adding water until the peas are cooked; it’s cooked when you can mash them with ease )
Pour in the coconut milk
Add the carrots, bell peppers, black pepper, complete seasoning, and pink salt • Add the spinners and potatoes.
Then bring the pot to a boil then reduce to medium-low.
Put in the scotch bonnet then place the lid half on and allow the stew to simmer until it thickens (it should take about 30-45 minutes)
Do a taste test and adjust the seasoning if needed.
When you’re done remove the thyme stems, scallions, and scotch bonnet before serving.

To make the spinners

Put the flour in a large bowl with the pink salt
Pour the water (a little at a time) into the bowl and at the same time use your other hand to form a pliable dough ball.
Then pinch off a small amount of the dough and roll it into the palm of your hand to make your spinners.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31

Wisdom

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have freedom. He set us free from the bondage of sin. Before we knew Him sin held us down. We were living lives of lawlessness not knowing that our end would be hell. But once we believed in Jesus Christ and live according to His will for our lives, we have been set free from sin, for His blood washes away our former self and we are forgiven for what we have done in our ignorance.

Therefore, we must live our lives for Him. Give Him all the glory, all the honor, all the praise. The things we now do in our lives as believers must all be done to the glory of God. We must not use our freedom to sow to the flesh but sow to the Holy Spirit he has given us.

While we were yet sinners Jesus died for us. We are saved by grace through faith. He lay down His life for us, so it’s only fair that we live the rest of our lives for Him. So whatever you decide to do after you received the gift of salvation, do it all to the glory of God.

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