Jamaican Food Recipes

Jamaica has a fascinating and extremely delectable tropical cuisine, which is the result of the several immigrations to Jamaica. The common ingredients used in Jamaican cuisine include Ackee, Cassava, Jamaican jerk spice, Plantain, Green Bananas, Scotch bonnet peppers, Chayote, Allspice, Ginger, Callaloo, Scallion and Breadfruit. In case you are looking forward to try out some of the tropical delights of Jamaica in your kitchen, here are some Jamaican food recipes…

Jamaican Food Recipes

Jamaican recipes are refreshingly delicious, spicy and a must try for every gourmet lover. I’ve tried to put together the best Jamaican food recipes for you. The salt fish, Rice and Peas or the Renta Pineapple drink, take your pick and cook a perfect Jamaican meal right at home…

Jamaican Salt Fish

The salt fish recipe is considered to be the national dish of Jamaica. Prepared with Ackees and scotch bonnet peppers, this recipe is a must try for all you food-lovers.

Ingredients:

• Saltfish – ½ lb
• Ackees – 12
• Onion –1
• Black pepper – 1 teaspoon
• Scotch bonnet pepper – 3 slices
• Red pepper – 1
• Thyme – 1 or 2 sprigs
• Garlic Powder – 2 teaspoons
• Cooking oil

Preparation:

• First of all soak the salt fish in water or boil it in water for about five minutes in order to get rid of some excess salt.
• Clean the Ackee by removing all the seeds and also all the traces of interior red pit from the Ackee.
• Having seeded the Ackees, now wash them thoroughly and boil in water until they become moderately soft.
• No remove all the bones from the salt fish.
• Now, sauté the finely sliced onions and sweet pepper rings.
• Now add the salt fish, Ackees, garlic powder and thyme sprigs and sauté the mixture for a while.
• Add the black pepper and toss the ingredients in the pan for a while.
• Now take out the contents of the pan onto the serving dish and garnish with some more onion and peppers.
• To give the authentic Jamaican touch to this recipe, serve it with green banana or fried dumplings

Rice and Peas

One of the staple constituents of the Jamaican food is Rice and Peas, which is nothing but a simple rice dish which is made with rice and any other legume like red kidney beans, pigeon peas or cowpeas.

Ingredients

• Red kidney beans – 2 cups
• Fresh coconut milk – 2 cups
• Rice – 2 cups
• Onion –1
• Garlic – 1 clove
• Thyme – 1 Sprig
• Cooking oil – 1 table spoon
• Scotch bonnet pepper –1
• Water

Preparation

• Mix the coconut milk with water and also drain the liquid from the beans and add it to the mixture so that it adds up to four cups.
• Pour the liquid in a pot and add beans, onion, garlic, thyme and oil and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Now, add the rice and stir for a minute.
• Place scotch bonnet pepper in the pot and cover tightly for around half an hour until the rice is well cooked.
• Remove scotch bonnet pepper before serving.

Renta Pineapple Drink

After having savored the delectable fish and the spiced rice and peas from the Jamaican cuisine it is a must to try the soothing and exotic tropical pineapple drink of Jamaica. This exotic concoction contains yam, pineapple and orange juice with a hint of ginger. Here’s the recipe for the Renta Pineapple Drink….

Ingredients:

• Renta Yam – 1 lb
• Chopped Pineapple – 1 cup
• Fresh Orange Juice – 1 cup
• Lemons –2
• Granulated sugar – ½ lb
• Ginger – 2 oz
• Water – 2 cups

Preparation:

• Peel the Renta Yam and boil it until it becomes soft and tender.
• Allow the yam to cool down and then put it in the blender to puree it.
• Squeeze fresh lemon juice in the yam puree.
• Now, add the chopped pineapple, ginger and water and blend the ingredients well.
• Add the orange juice and sugar to make the drink sufficiently sweet.
• Serve chilled over ice

Jamaican food offers a wide variety of colorful and lip smacking recipes starting from chicken and beef to rice and peas along with a wide variety of desserts and drinks as well. So the next time you are looking for an authentic tropical flavor to spice up the menu, look no further - go for the Jamaican food recipes!