Gungo Peas Soup

Name: Gungo Peas Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 2 cups dried gungo peas (pigeon peas), soaked overnight; 400ml coconut milk; 1 large yam, peeled and cubed; 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed; 2 carrots, sliced; 1 cho cho (chayote), cubed; 4 stalks scallion, chopped; 4 sprigs fresh thyme; 1 onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, whole; Salt and black pepper; 2L water; For dumplings: 1 cup flour, salt, water

Gungo Peas Soup (GUNG-oh PEEZ soup)

Pigeon Pea Soup with Dumplings

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 30 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 380 kcal

A thick, hearty soup of pigeon peas simmered with coconut milk, yam, sweet potato, dumplings, and fresh thyme, a Jamaican Saturday tradition.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 16.0g

Carbs 52.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ coconut ⚠ gluten

Equipment Needed

large stockpot ladle cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep soup bowl

Garnishes: scallion, thyme

Accompaniments: hard dough bread, water crackers

Ingredients

2 cups dried gungo peas (pigeon peas), soaked overnight
400ml coconut milk
1 large yam, peeled and cubed
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 carrots, sliced
1 cho cho (chayote), cubed
4 stalks scallion, chopped
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, whole
Salt and black pepper
2L water
For dumplings: 1 cup flour, salt, water

Instructions

1
Drain soaked gungo peas and place in a large pot with water. Bring to a boil and cook for forty-five minutes until tender.
2
Add coconut milk, onion, garlic, scallion, and thyme to the pot. Stir well and bring back to a gentle simmer.
3
Add yam, sweet potato, and carrots. Cook for twenty minutes until root vegetables are beginning to soften.
4
Mix flour with salt and enough water to form a stiff dough. Pinch off small pieces and drop into the simmering soup as dumplings.
5
Add cho cho and whole Scotch bonnet pepper. Simmer another fifteen minutes until all vegetables and dumplings are cooked through.
6
Season with salt and pepper. The soup should be thick and hearty. Serve hot in deep bowls with plenty of broth and vegetables.

💡

Did You Know?

Saturday is traditionally "soup day" in Jamaica, and gungo peas soup is the most popular choice, with vendors selling it on every street corner.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large stockpot
ladle
cutting board

Garnishing

scallion, thyme

Accompaniments

hard dough bread, water crackers

The Story Behind Gungo Peas Soup

Gungo peas soup is Jamaica's beloved Saturday tradition, so deeply embedded in the culture that Saturday is simply known as "soup day" across the island. Pigeon peas, brought from Africa, thrive in Jamaica's climate and became a staple legume. The hearty combination of peas, root vegetables, coconut milk, and dumplings creates a meal so substantial it carries families through the weekend. Every Saturday, the aroma of simmering soup fills Jamaican kitchens and roadside stalls alike.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed saturday lunch 📜 Origins: Traditional Jamaican

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