20 Traditional Jamaican Recipes - TheShyFoodBlogger (2024)

15+ Authentic Jamaican Recipes

Across the world, Jamaican cuisine is well-known to be one of the best in the Caribbean.

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Growing up, all I knew were Jamaican dishes, but now I’m opening my palette to cuisine beyond my home.

So, as I continue my cooking journey, I would like to take the time to showcase some of Jamaica’s best dishes and the recipes for them.

There are a lot of recipes that we, as Jamaicans, love to prepare.

These are just a few of the most talked about dishes, from our famous oxtail stew to our infamous jerk chicken and soups.

As much as I’d love to name all of them, let me start with these more popular dishes you won’t resist.

Recommended: 10+ Best Caribbean Breakfast Ideas

Additionally, these are perfect recipes that are budget-friendly, vegan-friendly, and even kid-friendly.

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So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

Popular Jamaican Dinner Recipes –

1. Jamaican Oxtail Stew

Jamaican Oxtail Stew is out-of-this-world delicious oxtails braised with butter beans in a flavorful deep gravy spiced up with allspice, thyme, curry, Scotch bonnet pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and browning sauce. ~ Immaculate Bites

2. Brown Stew Chicken

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Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken is the perfect comfort food for any day of the week. This savory dish is packed with nutrients and simmered in a flavorful gravy-like sauce.~ TheShyFoodBlogger

3. Stew Peas

This Jamaican Stew Peas recipe is pure comfort in a bowl. Made with red kidney beans and flavored with herbs, spices, coconut milk, and stewing meat. This hearty stew is packed with so much flavor. ~ My Forking Life

4. Escovitch Fish

Jamaican Escovitch Fish is a delectable dish that has been enjoyed by Jamaicans for centuries. This dish is made by frying a whole fish and then marinating it in a delicious blend of vinegar, onions, and spices. ~ Jerk Tavern

5. Jamaican Turkey Neck

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If you love oxtail meat you’re going to love this turkey neck recipe. Seared and cooked to perfection to give the best flavors ever.

6. Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Jerk Chicken is a classic Jamaican dish that is known all across the world. Jamaican Jerk Chicken is an earthy, sweet, and spicy blend of exotic flavors. ~ Jerk Tavern

7. Curry Goat

Jamaican Curry Goat is a beloved Caribbean meal made of stewed goat meat, and chunks of potatoes in a thick, savory curry sauce. This flavoured dish is marinated overnight in Jamaican spices and then slow-cooked until it’s fall-off-the-bone tender. Serve for dinner with a side of white rice and plantains. ~ Seasoned Skillet

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8. Stew Pork

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This Jamaican Stew Pork recipe is a classic comfort food and a favorite of mine. You won’t be able to resist this crowd-pleaser.

9. Jamaican Curry Chicken

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Jamaican Curry Chicken is a favorite comfort food for many. This recipe is so easy and pairs great with steamed rice and a side of fresh veggies. Ready in 30 minutes!

Popular Jamaican Soup Recipes –

10. Manish Water Soup

Mannish water soup is served hot as an appetizer in Jamaica, at large gatherings, like setup (wake), weddings, and parties. The broth is wonderful and full of deep, goat flavors with a hint of spice. ~ Jamaicans.com

11. Pumpkin Soup

Enjoy a meat free version of this traditional Jamaican Pumpkin Soup. It’s bursting with true Caribbean flavour, tasty and incredibly satisfying, so good you will be tempted to have more than one bowl of this goodness. ~ ThatGirlCooksHealthy

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12. Red Peas Soup

Jamaican Red Peas Soup is a classic Jamaican soup that’s bursting with a mix of Caribbean herbs, spices and flavour! ~ Seasoned Skillet

13. Conch Soup

A delicious soup that would easily transport you to the Caribbean with its flavor. This conch soup is packed with not just conch meat but also corn, potatoes, carrots, and dumplings. The perfect soup option. ~ This Bago Girl

14. Jamaican Fish Tea Soup

Fish tea is a favorite appetizer before meals at many Jamaican events. It is typically served in a small foam cup. It can be served as a meal as a soup. Try our Jamaican Fish Tea Recipe. ~ Jamaicans.com

15. Chicken Soup

Jamaican chicken soup is on the menu today! Nothing beats this hearty chicken soup dish it is full of flavour and very filling that you won’t need any sides. ~ Jamaican Foods and Recipes

Other Jamaican Dishes –

16. Fried Plantains

Sweet Fried plantain is our favorite side dish! Fried plantains pair well with everything and that’s no cap. It’s something your kids will love! ~ Jerk Tavern

17. Potato Salad

Caribbean Potato Salad -This incredible potato saladis creamy, luscious, tasty, and chock full of vegetables. ~ Immaculate Bites

18. Rice and Peas

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A popular dish in the Caribbean, this Jamaican Rice and Peas recipe goes well with many meat protein-based meals. Made with coconut milk, garlic, thyme, red kidney beans, butter, escallion, rice, and scotch bonnet pepper, you’ll sure love it.

19. Jamaican Patties

Uncover the exotic flavors of the Caribbean with this irresistible Jamaican Beef Patty recipe, a classic that combines a delicious ground beef filling with a delicious, flaky, golden pastry crust. This popular Jamaican street food can be enjoyed as a snack or a light meal. ~ Cooking Frog

20. Rice and Gungo Peas

I’m so happy to share all these recipes with you, as these were some of my favorites growing up.

And now you and you’re family can enjoy them too!

Don’t forget to check out my other posts with some of the best Caribbean breakfast ideas here.

More About Me:

P.S. Aside from blogging about my personal journey in the Cayman Islands, I’m also a girl who loves to cook. Technically I am a certified chef de partie (line chef).

I decided I wanted to hone in on the skills that I learned at culinary school and share some recipes I love to make or always wanted to make.

I’m no perfectionist but I do love food, so check out the food side of my blog here. I share all sorts of recipes and ideas you can try in your kitchen too!

Thanks for being here and I hope you enjoyed the content. You can follow me for more content and recipes onPinterest,Instagram, andTikTok.

~TheShyFoodBlogger

Category: Recipe Delights

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20 Traditional Jamaican Recipes - TheShyFoodBlogger (2024)

FAQs

What are some traditional Jamaican foods? ›

The 8 best Jamaican foods to try
  • Ackee and saltfish. Considered to be the national dish of Jamaica, ackee and saltfish is popular with both locals and tourists alike. ...
  • Fried breadfruit. ...
  • Goat curry. ...
  • Jerk chicken. ...
  • Jamaican beef patty. ...
  • Bammy. ...
  • Escovitch fish. ...
  • Mannish water.

What is the national food of Jamaica? ›

Ackee and Saltfish: Jamaica's national dish is a must-try dish on any visit to the island. Ackee, Jamaica's national fruit, is sautéed with salt fish (cod) fish, onions, tomato, sweet pepper, and other seasonings after being boiled.

What meat is eaten in Jamaica? ›

Jerk Chicken, Pork, or Fish

Most commonly, chicken is seasoned with Jamaican jerk, but it can also be applied to other meats and seafood. While Rastafarians, in particular, do not eat pork, it makes for a popular dish amongst other Jamaicans, especially when slathered with the classic jerk seasoning.

Why do Jamaicans not eat pork? ›

Seventh Day Adventists and some other Sabbath keepers don't eat it. They say it is forbidden by God, which they say is in the Bible. Rastafarians also have this belief. Some ministers of religion interpret it that because the law is in the Old Testament it is meant only for Jews so therefore Christians can eat it.

What fruit is Jamaica known for? ›

Jamaica's national fruit, the ackee is commonly used as the main ingredient in the island's traditional food dish, ackee and saltfish. This pear-shaped produce features a mild, nutty taste, which is why it is commonly curried over rice or cooked with tomatoes, onions, and codfish.

What do Jamaicans eat daily? ›

Many of the ingredients that have become the staples of the daily Jamaican diet (like ackee, breadfruit, yams, sweet potatoes, green bananas, coconuts, and plantains) were born from and produced under this system.

What is the national fruit of Jamaica? ›

Ackee (Blighia Sapida) is the national fruit of Jamaica as well as a component of the national dish – ackee and codfish. Although the ackee is not indigenous to Jamaica, it has remarkable historic associations. Originally, it was imported to the island from West Africa, probably on a slave ship.

What is the #1 Jamaican dish? ›

Ackee and codfish, or ackee and saltfish as it is more popularly known, is Jamaica's national dish. It is made with the ackee fruit, which was imported to this region from Ghana in Africa by slaves in this territory.

What does Jamaica eat on Christmas? ›

A most popular meal at this time of year is dinner, as around Christmastime this meal tends to be made in a special way. Traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner typically includes ham, oven-baked chicken, curried goat, oxtail, and fish. Based on the menu, these items would be cooked in various Jamaican styles.

What is the most eaten meat in Jamaica? ›

Poultry (chicken meat) is the most consumed protein in Jamaica with...

What drink is Jamaica known for? ›

Jamaica has long been celebrated for producing some of the world's finest rums, a byproduct of our thriving sugarcane industry with a rich heritage dating back centuries.

What food should I bring back from Jamaica? ›

Jamaican beef patties, cream crackers, banana and plantain chips, sandwich cookies, peppered shrimp, and so many more tasty nibbles are great for reminiscing on your time in Jamaica. If you're a savory fan or have a sweet tooth, there's a Jamaican snack for you!

How many meals do Jamaicans eat a day? ›

Jamaican meals

Jamaicans love to eat and have three big meals a day. They have a massive plateful for breakfast - ackee and saltfish, green banana (plaintain, boiled), festival etc.

What language do Jamaicans speak? ›

Although English is the official language of Jamaica, the majority of the population speak Jamaican Patois. This is a creole language (See the lesson on creole on this web site) made up of an English superstrate and African substrate.

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