Jamaican Gungo Peas Soup Recipe

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Jamaican Gungo Peas Soup Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups gungo peas (fresh or frozen)
• 1lb beef ( washed and cut into cubes)
• 8 cups vegetable broth (just water works too)
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 potato, cut into cubes
• 1 cup yam, dasheen, coco, chopped 
• 1 carrot, diced
• 3 sprigs of thyme ( dried thyme can work too)
• 1 whole Scotch Bonnet pepper
• 12 pimento/allspice berries
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• Dumplings (as much as you like)
• salt to taste
• 1 Grace Cock Soup Mix
• 1 Maggi Cock Soup Mix

PROCEDURE

1. Prepare the Gungo Peas: If you are using dried gungo peas, sort and soak the peas overnight in cold water, ensuring they are covered by about 4 inches of water. The next day, drain and rinse the peas. In a pot, add water, about 3 inches above the peas. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for approximately 1 hour, or until the peas are tender.
   
   
2. Assemble the Soup:

- Add the different ingredients for the soup in series. First, add the beef and gungo peas and allow them to cook until you can crush the peas with a fork. Next, add vegetable broth, coconut milk, cubed potato, and yam.
- Add the prepared dumplings to the soup. These dumplings add a wonderful texture to the dish and soak up the flavours of the broth.
- Include the diced carrot, dried thyme (or fresh thyme sprigs), and the whole Scotch Bonnet pepper. Be cautious while handling it, as it packs a lot of heat, and do not allow it to burst open in the pot. Also, add the pimento/allspice seeds and freshly grated ginger for an extra layer of flavour. Add all your remaining spices and herbs to the pot as well.

3. Cook to Perfection: Bring the soup to a boil, allowing all the ingredients to meld beautifully. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes. This simmering period allows the flavours to meld, creating a rich and aromatic soup.
   
   
4. Season and Serve: The very last step is to add your favourite soup pack, I use a mix of Grace and Maggi Cock Soup mix. Allow the soup to continue simmering and cook for another 15 minutes then it is time to serve. Ladle the steaming hot soup into bowls and enjoy.

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