Red Peas Soup

Instructions

1- Wash and rinse the dried kidney beans.

3- then cover with water in a deep bowl.

4- Remember as they soak they will expand to at least triple the size they were originally so add a lot of water to the bowl.

5- Soak them overnight or for at least 2 hrs to make the cooking step go quicker.

6- I tossed out the water they were soaked in after it did the job.

7- Have your butcher cut the salted pigtail into 2 inch pieces as it will be very difficult to cut with an ordinary kitchen knife.

8- Wash, then place a deep pot with water and bring to a boil.

9- Cook for 20 minutes, then drain + rinse and repeat (boil again in water).

10- The goal is to make the pieces of pig tails tender and to remove most of the salt it was cured in.

11- Time to start the soup.

12- Place everything in the pot (except the flour and potato), then cover with water and place on a high flame to bring to a boil.

13- As it comes to a boil, skim off any scum/froth at the top and discard.

14- Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and allow it to cook for 1 hr and 15 mins.

16- basically until the beans are tender and start falling apart.

17- It’s now time to add the potato (and Yams etc if you’re adding it) as well as the coconut milk and continue cooking for 15 minutes.

18- Now is a good time to start making the basic dough for the spinner dumplings.

19- Mix the flour and water (add a pinch of salt if you want) until you have a soft/smooth dough.

20- allow it to rest for 5 minutes, then pinch of a tablespoon at a time and roll between your hands to form a cigarette shape.

21- Add them to the pot, stir well and continue cooking for another 15 minutes on a rolling boil.

22- You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt to the pot as the remaining salt from the salted pigtails will be enough to properly season this dish.

23- However you can taste and adjust accordingly.

24- Lets recap the timing part of things so you’re not confused.

25- Cook the base of the soup for 1 hr and 15 minute or until tender, then add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes, then add the dumplings and cook for a further 15 minutes.

26- Keep in mind that this soup will thicken quite a bit as it cools.

27- While this is not a traditional recipe to any one specific island, versions of this soup (sometimes called stewed peas) can be found throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.

28- A hearty bowl of this soup will surely give you the sleepies (some may call it ethnic fatigue).

29- You can certainly freeze the leftovers and heat it up another day.