Jamaican Corn Meal Porridge- Tired of the same oatmeal for breakfast? Mix it up and try this warming cornmeal porridge instead! Infused with Caribbean spices and coconut milk for a complete warm and comforting breakfast.
Tell me is there a better way to kick start the day than with a warm, hearty breakfast. If you wake up wanting something a bit sweet to combat early morning cravings then you are in luck. This Jamaican cornmeal porridge will do just that.
What I like about it is that it’s so filling and very energizing making it ideal for a pick me up in the a.m. breakfast.
We have been blessed with some much-needed rain here in Southern California. When it rains all I want to do is cozy up with a bowl of this cornmeal porridge and watch as the rainfall in crazy chaotic drops- slowly savoring one spoon at a time. Secretly wanting it to go on for days on end. But every good thing must come to an end.
This Traditional Jamaican cornmeal porridge, is also known as “Cog” and “Pop”- a Caribbean breakfast dish that dates back more than a century.
It’s made with yellow cornmeal, infused with earthy spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Most often condensed and/or coconut milk is added for a rich and sweet taste. If you want a vegan then use coconut condensed milk
What does it taste like? An incredible cross between traditional porridge and grits. You have sweetness along with warmth from the cinnamon , nutmeg as well as the sweet “corny” flavor of the cornmeal itself.
A hot cereal with depth and texture that is not too heavy on the stomach. Taste great on it’s own but when combined with fruits and nuts it’s heavenly. My favorite is mango and blueberries.
You can’t go wrong with sliced banana, mango, slivered almonds and/or walnuts. Lastly, you can serve this for brunch, lunch, dinner or an indulgent snack.
Enjoy!!!
NOTES
- Be sure to stir the porridge frequently during cooking to avoid any lumps in your porridge.
- Adjust flavorings and milk to taste. However, nutmeg and vanilla are essential in making Jamaican Porridge.
- 2 cups water
- 2-3 cups coconut milk drinkable carton variety
- ½ cinnamon stick
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg adjust to taste
- Sweeteners (condensed milk coconut sugar, brown sugar
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk)
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Add about 2 cups water and 2 cups coconut milk to a heavy large saucepan. Throw in ½ stick cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil.
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Gradually whisk in the cornmeal, until you have add the whole thing in the pot, a little bit at a time and keep stirring with a wooden spoon to prevent any lumps.
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Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens about 15 minutes.
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Add flavoring vanilla extract, nutmeg and sweetened condensed milk.
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Adjust consistency with coconut and/or water if desired.
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Turn off the heat. Serve piping hot with extra nutmeg, sweeteners an
Hi Imma,
It’s awesome to see a cornmeal porridge recipe here. I am originally from the Caribbean and there are all different versions of this dish. I have a Jamaican friend who make the best cornmeal porridge and the secret is to add a pinch of salt and a knob of butter to the mix. Takes that porridge to different levels of delicious.
Loving your site and all the recipes. Makes me think of home.
Oooh butter would definitely kick it up a notch. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
This brings back many memories, time and place from childhood days. Growing up my auntie often used to make this for us as well we used to have it often before bedtime. Often we had it plain but sometimes with bananas as they were ever plentiful. I often luv the nutmeg taste in it and just not the same without it. Food like this always bring back long almost lost memories buried in the cobweb of the mind, but how easy do you find them just looking at and remembering a simple dish.
I hear you Urban. The best tasting dish are the ones that invoke childhood memories… I have plenty of mine.
can you use canned coconut milk vs the carton drinkable variety? is that the kind that’s in the refrigerated section like regular milk?
Of course you can. You just have to dilute it -because it contains a lot of fat. However, adjust to suit your tastebuds. Yes it’s in the refrigerated section like milk. And you can also find some next to almond milk.
If you got the reduced fat version of canned coconut milk would that work, rather than diluting the full fat version? Been looking for some different breakfasts to try so excited to try this! Do you think you could cook it overnight in a slow cooker? Wondering if you make it up to the slow cooking stage if you could then put it in the slow cooker or in the over to bake through? Mornings are a little busy in our house!
You could but I wouldn’t be able to tell you the exact water measurements. You might have to experiment with the liquid proportions. I have yet to try in a slow cooker.
I do not drink porridge of any kind (an overdose as a child) 🙂 but I make cornmeal porridge once a week for my 5yo. I sometimes add a bit of orange peel to give it the old timey feeling and a nice flavour. My son loves it and says mommy makes the best porridge. Thankfully he is too excited to notice that I do not have any.
I will definitely try the butter the next time I make it.
It’s even better with butter.YUM!
Looks super nice and it’s naturally gluten-free which is great for my coeliac friend.
I will try it one day!
Awesome! I love porridge it’s so comforting .
Ok so finally I’m in the right season for this…do you think coarsely ground cornmeal will still work? I have got a bag of polenta bramata flour that is due in a short time but I don’t want to make polenta. Should I cook it for longer? Sorry for bothering you.
You certainly can and yes cook it longer. Didi! I love having you here- Seriously.You are NEVER bothering me. Always look forward to your comments. and/or insights- Appreciate you girl!!!!
Ok thank you, I think I’ll try it in the next 10 days or so, with the summer heat arriving and all I’ll be using your recipes more these days! Sadly I don’t know if I will be able to get coconut milk so I will likely use cow’s milk.
I was going to make some this morning and I asked my husband to run to the store and grab some corn meal. He came back with corn meal mix. Can I still use that?
Hi Evani! It will taste slightly off. It’s best made with cornmeal only- corn meal mix has flour in it. You might want to try it and see how it turns out.
I am new to your site and you have a fan! I enjoy reading your recipes and looking at the photos. I am making cornmeal porridge for breakfast tomorrow. I think I will kick it up a notch with butter and a banana as other posters mentioned. Thank you for sharing your recipes! (P.S. made your escovitch recently and loved it!)
You’re in good company. Yes to the additions, I tried it recently with almond butter- and loved it! You can really kick it up a notch with various toppings!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the escovitch.
Happy Cooking!!!
I was very yummy impressed with much gratitude and blessings!
Awesome! Thanks!
Can I use almond milk instead of coconut milk?
You sure can.
Ms. Imma, I have to try this! My mom makes the best tasting porridge and she hasn’t taught me her secrets really. Porridge and corn meal at that, is one of my favorite things to eat growing up as well. When I make it, its ok but I need and just have to try this recipe. I will make the coconut milk myself though as it will be more organic and without preservatives of any kind. I will try this and let you know how it turns out. Thank you sooo much for this recipe.
Awesome! I think fresh coconut milk will make it taste even better. Hope this works out for you.
Hi there,
I am a huge fan of Cornmeal Porridge, sadly I have not attempted to make it yet.
After coming on your site, I feel that I am ready to give it a try! When I was visiting Jamaica, I had porridge every morning along with their #1 coffee in the world, Blue Mountain :0)
I have a quick question though, after making the porridge, how long can I store it in the fridge for? And if so, how would I re-warm it? Would I put it back on the stove?
I am asking for my mom, as when she has my great nephew over night, he seems to be hungry, and growing up with a lot of Caribbean friends, I remember their mom feeding their babies cornmeal porridge before bedtime to fill their belly up for the entire night. Hence the question about storing it.
Thank you.
Hi Chrissy! I think cornmeal porridge is best when cooked the same day. It really doesn’t reheat well. Some of my family members make a day ahead and reheat in the microwave. Just feel is not quite the same- texture wise.
Hope this helps!
I love cog (or pop) in the morning. The earthy cornmeal and coconut is a great way to start the day. Your version is very close to my auntie’s. Do you have a slow cooker version since I get up early and my wife sleeps later?
Sorry I don’t ! Haven’t really tried it out in a slow cooker. Always cook it stove top
When sroring it in the fridge try blending it then reheat to get the lumps out.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this tip with us Nicky.