Introduction
Jamaica is a small Caribbean island known for a variety of things. Perhaps you’ve dreamed of lying on Jamaica’s greatest beaches or swimming in the blue sea, but the country’s rich culture has so much more to offer visitors.
As a result of the country’s colonial history, you’ll find an unending variety of Jamaican food from the country’s original settlers, Tainos, Africans, Spanish, English, Chinese, and Indians. Although Jamaican cuisine is focused on meat and seafood, there are vegetarian options available. It has many more delectable dishes, and this post will highlight some of Jamaica’s homestyle dishes that you must taste!
Jerk Chicken
Jamaican cuisine is dominated by jerk-style cooking. The most prevalent jerk foods are jerk chicken and jerk pork, which can be found anywhere from fine dining establishments to street-side metal drums.
Lots of salt, scotch bonnet peppers, and allspice should be included in the marinade. Onions, scallions, thyme, black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg have subsequently been added to the recipe, and sweetwood can now be used to smoke the meat as well. It’s served with bread, festivals, a slightly sweet cylindrical-shaped johnnycake, or dumplings wrapped in foil.
If you’re wondering what distinguishes true jerk, it all comes down to the wood used to smoke the meat. To acquire the real flavor of jerk, it must be smoked over pimento chips.
Ackee and Saltfish
This is Jamaica’s national food, and it is typically served for breakfast, though it can be eaten at any time of day. Ackee is a tree-borne fruit that develops in pods. When uncooked, it is dangerous, so it must be permitted to open naturally on the tree before being harvested and prepared. It’s then sautéed with saltfish and seasonings and served with yams, green bananas, and potatoes, among other things. The saltfish gives the ackee its flavor, and it may be replaced with corn pork or left out entirely if you’re vegan.
Stews and Soups
Stewing meat is another popular method of preparation in Jamaica. Brown stew chicken, pork, oxtails, beef, and fish are all common stewed meat recipes.
Stew Peas is another popular dish that may be made vegan by using kidney beans and coconut milk, though it generally contains salted meat and tails. The Red Peas Soup resembles the Stew Peas meal as well. Kidney beans, coconut milk, pumpkin soup base, and salted meat are used to make this thick and substantial soup.
Curried Goat
Another popular dish on the island is curry goat. Jamaican curry differs from regular Indian curry in a few ways. It’s also a tad hotter. Goat meat has a slightly gamey flavor that is similar to beef. It’s a delicate and juicy meal that goes well with white rice and is a crowd-pleaser at house parties.
Closing statement
Now that you know everything there is to know about Jamaican food and the best dishes to try, all you have to do is start looking for true Jamaican restaurants!
Experience a full course of Carribean dining only with Tropical Oasis! We offer a wide selection of Jamaican and Chinese dishes from Mondays to Sundays. We are located at 20737 NW 2nd Ave, Miami 33169. Visit our website to view the full menu www.tropicaloasis.globalpresence.org. For more information, call our telephone number 954-447-3216.
