Cornmeal Porridge
Starting your morning with a warm bowl of creamy cornmeal porridge is the comforting Caribbean breakfast you never knew you needed. Made with fine cornmeal, coconut milk, and toasty spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. This version is naturally dairy-free and vegan, but still rich. I make this wholesome breakfast in just 13 minutes, ensuring a great start to my family’s day.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 231kcal
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- A good quality whisk
Ingredients
- 1 cup fine cornmeal
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk or coconut milk
- 3¼ cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup condensed coconut milk
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the cornmeal and 1 cup water, set aside.
- Bring to a boil the remaining 2¼ cups of water, 1 cup of soy milk and the cinnamon stick.
- Pour the cornmeal mixture into the boiling water and whisk until well combined, reduce heat and continue to whisk, ensuring no lumps, until the cornmeal thickens. Remove the cinnamon stick.
- Add the nutmeg, vanilla extract and 3 tbsp condensed coconut milk, cook for another 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and adjust thickness by adding more soy milk if needed. Adjust sweetness by adding more condensed milk if required.
- Serve hot topped with fresh fruit, a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and a dash of soy or coconut milk.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this cornmeal porridge recipe is to NEVER skip whisking the cornmeal with water. This creates a slurry that prevents lumps when the cornmeal hits the hot liquid. I treat it the same way I treat cornstarch if it were used for thickening a sauce.
- Stir frequently: Cornmeal thickens quickly, and I make sure to whisk regularly to maintain a smooth texture and prevent sticking.
- Watch the heat: I reduce the heat as soon as the porridge thickens, so that it cooks gently without scorching.
- Adjust to your liking: Everyone has a preference for consistency, so if you want it thinner, I recommend whisking in a little bit of milk at a time until you are happy.
- Use cinnamon quills: I prefer cinnamon quills over sticks for a sweater, gentler flavor. It is also less likely to leave bits of stick in the cornmeal.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g