Is it just me, or is it a Jamaican-Food-on-the-Patio kinda day?
These recipes are a) vibrant, because I accidentally made them extra colorful – oops? b) flavorful and comforting like good island food should be, and c) full of warm and wonderful flavors like allspice, thyme, and coconut that basically bring the best of the best vacation feelings right on into your house.
Also noteworthy: these recipes are just plain fun, which feels extra awesome any day of the week, right? So two points for that!
1. Jerk Chicken
When I’m making jerk chicken, I’m a firm believer in using bone-in thighs and legs. That dark meat just pairs so perfectly with the powerful spices, and these cuts are always way juicier.
These will bake up beautifully in the oven, but if you can grill them, you have to do it. That little bit of smoky flavor takes everything in the marinade to a whole new level. It’s an unbeatable combination.
2. Jamaican Beef Patties
Think of this as Jamaica’s answer to the empanada or the British Cornish pasty. It’s their own amazing version of a beef filled hand pie, and I am so here for it.
While a lot of the ingredients are similar to what you’d find in a pasty, like beef and onion, this recipe adds some curry powder into the mix for a little something extra.
Just be sure you seal the edges really well and give them a brush of egg yolk for that gorgeous golden finish.
3. Jamaican Gungo Peas Soup
Gungo peas are a little hard to find, but they are so worth it, being low in fat and high in fiber. If you can’t track them down, don’t you worry. You can substitute black eyed peas for a similar flavor and texture.
This stew is just packed with beans, veggies, potatoes, and plenty of amazing spice. And can we talk about the dumplings for a second? They are just incredible.
4. Sticky Sweet Fried Plantains
I am such a huge fan of sweet fried plantains; I’ve loved them ever since my first trip to Haiti. In Jamaica, you’ll often find them fried up with sticky maple syrup, some brown sugar, and a little bit of coconut oil. YUM.
They only need a few minutes in the pan to get soft and start to caramelize into pure magic.
5. Jamaican Oxtail
Who knew that oxtail could be this delicious? If you’ve never cooked with it before, now is seriously the time to start. It has some extra fat that produces such a rich flavor in the stock.
And when you slow cook it, some people argue that it’s even more tender than other cuts of beef. I think they might be right!
6. Jamaican Rum Cake
There is a very good reason people always bring rum cake back with them from a Caribbean vacation. It’s insanely delicious! The cake itself is so buttery and moist, but the real magic happens after it cools.
You pour over a cooled syrup of butter, sugar, and rum, and it seeps into every last bit of the cake. Every single bite is an absolute dream.
7. Bammy
This flatbread might just become your new best friend. It’s vegan, paleo, and gluten free! It’s made with cassava, or “yuca,” which is a starchy root vegetable you find in lots of Caribbean cooking.
After grating it and squeezing out the extra moisture, the cassava gets pan fried into a disc and then soaked in coconut milk. It is just so, so good.
8. Jamaican Curry Chicken
This Jamaican curry might look a little like some of the Asian curries you know, and it even uses a lot of the same ingredients, including coconut milk. But the big difference here is that this recipe brings so much more warmth.
With the classic Scotch bonnet peppers plus extra all spice and turmeric, it just hits that perfect spot of cozy and delicious.
9. Jamaican Carrots
What makes these carrots different from the ones your grandma used to make? It has to be the use of hot sauce, pineapple juice, and cumin.
It sounds wild, but trust me on this one. These carrots are completely to die for. I could eat the whole bowl myself!
10. Rice and Peas
This recipe is so simple but so incredibly effective. It’s loaded with flavor and makes the perfect side for jerk chicken! Even though the dish is called rice and peas, it’s actually made with kidney beans.
Cooking the rice in a mix of stock and coconut cream makes it so tender and flavorful. And of course, you can always leave out the Scotch bonnet pepper if you like things a little more mild.
11. Jamaican Fried Dumplings
These little bites are crispy on the outside and so perfectly soft on the inside. They are seriously hard to resist!
They’re not too sweet or too savory, which means you can pair them with just about anything, from Jamaican chicken curry to some sticky sweet plantains. It’s a total win.
12. Jamaican Hot Pepper Shrimp
This fiery dish is definitely not for the faint of heart. When you dice the peppers, that flavor gets all over the shrimp, so there’s really no escaping the heat.
But if spicy food isn’t really your thing, you can leave the peppers out and you’ll still end up with a delicious plate of beautifully seasoned shrimp.
13. Jamaican-Style Chickpea Curry Recipe
I am a huge fan of using chickpeas in a curry. They have such a great texture and are guaranteed to make the vegetarian in your life super happy.
Here’s a little tip: if you like your curry to be on the thicker side, you can try mashing or even pureeing some of the chickpeas and then stirring them back into the pot.
14. Jamaican Oxtail Stew
Oxtail is the perfect cut of meat for making a stew. It guarantees that your final dish will be tender, rich, and just bursting with amazing flavor.
You can make this recipe and leave out the chilis for a fantastic winter warmer. Or, you can crank up the heat and toss in some peppers to really make your mouth water.
15. Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge Recipe
This combination of cornmeal, condensed milk, cinnamon, and nutmeg was such a pleasant surprise on my first morning in Jamaica. It’s so unusual but so, so good.
It was served to me with some fresh mango on top and a few coconut shavings, and it was such a warm and filling way to start the day. I still think about it!
16. Jamaican Steamed Cabbage
Cabbage is a super inexpensive side dish that you can find in almost any country. But this colorful version from Jamaica is absolutely one of my favorites.
The best part of this whole dish is the Scotch bonnet pepper! It adds the perfect amount of heat without being totally overwhelming. It takes something as simple as cabbage and gives it a whole new life.
17. Vegan Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
If you are a fan of sweet potato pie, then this recipe is for you. This dish needs a double bake, which is the secret to creating a remarkable base and a super creamy pudding top.
You might find you need to add a little extra flour to account for the different kinds of sweet potatoes we have here in the States.
18. Jamaican Carrot Juice
You are not going to believe me on this one until you try it, but Jamaican carrot juice is unbelievably delicious. It’s made with condensed milk and spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, so it’s super creamy.
You can also make it with coconut milk if you want a nuttier flavor. So good!
19. Jamaican Jerk Marinade
I know we all love looking for shortcuts in the kitchen, but taking the time to marinate your meat goes such a long way when it comes to amazing flavor.
You can even make a big batch of this and freeze some meat after it’s had time to sit in the marinade. That makes your next meal prep just a little bit quicker. I know the ingredient list looks a little long, but I’m willing to bet you have most of it in your pantry already.