21 Mouthwatering Jamaican Recipes You Should Try ASAP (2024)

FAQs

What do Jamaicans have for dinner? ›

Common to both traditional and modern Jamaican cooks, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status, is the use of staples such as yam, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, pumpkins, tropical fruits, fresh coconut, Scotch bonnets, ginger, and lots of aromatic spices and vegetables.

Jamaican cooking amenities have evolved from open wood fuelled fires to high-end modern gas and electric ranges with ovens. However, some households are still using the traditional coal stove to prepare daily family meals. The original Jamaican barbecue is a Taino invention.

One of Jamaica's most famous dishes

Jerk chicken is one of the most well-known dishes to come from Jamaica. The meat is marinated in spices with scotch bonnet pepper, pimento and scallion before being cooked over coals and pimento wood.

If you're wondering what is Jamaica's most popular food, beef patties are definitely in the running. It's the Jamaican recipe that locals cannot get enough of! It's a simple pastry of a buttery flaky crust filled with minced beef. It's so good, Jamaican beef patties are eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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.

Grilled fish is one of our favourite healthy Jamaican meals as it's low in fat, low in calories and high in protein. This dish is usually served with the local Coconut Run-Down Sauce, the chef's selection of market vegetables and Herb Rice Pilaf.

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.

Jamaican cuisine is unique because of its isolated roots and the way that it has preserved its core flavorings throughout centuries of outside influences. If you're reaching for a glass of water in Jamaica, chances are you are just getting started with the local Scotch Bonnet peppers.

East Indian and Chinese influences can be found in Jamaican cuisine like roti, curried dishes, chow mein and sweet and sour meats as a result of indentured labourers who replaced slaves after emancipation.

How many meals do Jamaicans eat? ›

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.

Breakfast and dinner are considered the most important meals. A popular breakfast dish is the national one: ackee and saltfish. While it looks similar to scrambled eggs, the taste is quite different.

Sunday is undisputedly the day for rice and peas and chicken. From as early as Saturday night or even Sunday morning, you are sure to see some peas soaking in the kitchen. Whether it be gungo or red peas, this is a must!

My Sunday dinner usually consists of rice and peas, fried ripe plantain, baked chicken and gravy. Vegetables digest quicker than heavy starches and proteins; so, those are consumed prior to the main meal.