List of Jamaican dishes and foods explained
This is a list of Jamaican dishes and foods. Jamaican cuisine includes a mixture of cooking techniques, flavors, spices and influences from the indigenous people on the island of Jamaica, and the Africans and Indians who have inhabited the island. It is also influenced by the crops introduced into the island from tropical West Africa and Southeast Asia, which are now grown locally. Jamaican cuisine includes dishes from the different cultures brought to the island, while other dishes are novel or a fusion of techniques and traditions. A wide variety of seafood, tropical fruits, and meats are available.
Jamaican dishes and foods
- Ackee and saltfish, made from the local fruit ackee and dried and salted cod (saltfish). This is the national dish of Jamaica. It is often served with bread, Jamaican
- Cassava
- Coco bread, made to sandwich the Jamaican patty
- Cornbread bun-like pastry
- Cow foot, stewed
- Jamaican festival, similar to a hushpuppy
- Hard dough bread (hardo bread)
- Jamaican patty, a savoury and spicy pastry filled with meats (such as beef, curried chicken, shrimp, lobster), or other ingredients like ackee, callaloo, cheese, soy, steamed vegetables and more
- Jerk meats usually jerked: chicken, and pork
- Oxtail with (broad beans)
- Pan chicken (jerked chicken prepared and sold by street food vendors along with hard dough bread)
- Peanut, available raw, or hot and roasted as street food
- Plantain, eaten green or ripe as is; can be boiled or fried. Usually served as side dishes.
- Porridge, popular flavours include oatmeal, cornmeal, peanut, banana, plantain, and hominy corn porridge.
- Rice and peas, the most popular style of rice for everyday use, and is a Sunday staple of most Jamaican households
- Roast yam and saltfish (either 'cooked up' or roasted as well)
- Roast conch
- Roti Run down, a dish consisting of pickled mackerel, coconut milk, herbs and spices
- Solomon gundy, a salt herring pâté
- Stamp and Go, dried and salted cod (saltfish) fritters
- Stew peas, a stew of red peas (kidney beans) which may be vegetarian or have pieces of meat added such as cured pig's tail
- Sugarcane, peeled, which is chewed to obtain the juice, or can be bought as bottled sugarcane juice
- Sweet bread, softer than normal bread with a slight sweetness
- Water crackers
- Yam
A list of Jamaican foods include:
- Ackee
- Saltfish
- Ackee and Saltfish
- Jerk Chicken
- Jerk Pork
- Curry Goat
- Curry Chicken
- Brown Stew Chicken
- Oxtail Stew
- Escovitch Fish
- Callaloo
- Rice and Peas
- Festival (fried dumplings)
- Bammy (cassava flatbread)
- Fried Plantains
- Run Down (mackerel stew)
- Pepper Pot Soup
- Mannish Water (goat soup)
- Red Peas Soup
- Pumpkin Soup
- Gungo Peas Soup
- Fish Tea (light fish soup)
- Jamaican Patties (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
- Hard Dough Bread
- Johnny Cakes (fried dumplings)
- Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding
- Sweet Potato Pudding
- Jamaican Rum Cake (Black Cake)
- Toto (coconut cake)
- Gizzada (coconut tart)
- Coconut Drops
- Tamarind Balls
- Grater Cake (coconut sweet)
- Peanut Drops
- Jamaican Banana Bread
- Jamaican Ginger Cake
- Jamaican Spice Bun
- Rock Bun
- Bun and Cheese
- Stamp and Go (saltfish fritters)
- Solom Gundy (pickled fish)
- Jamaican Beef Stew
- Jamaican Chicken Soup
- Jamaican Fish Stew
- Stewed Peas with Pig's Tail
- Cow Foot Stew
- Steamed Fish
- Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge
- Hominy Corn Porridge
- Peanut Porridge
- Green Banana Porridge
- Plantain Porridge
- Breadfruit
- Roast Yam
- Boiled Dumplings
- Boiled Green Bananas
- Boiled Breadfruit
- Boiled Yam
- Boiled Sweet Potatoes
- Fried Dumplings
- Fried Breadfruit
- Callaloo and Saltfish
- Ital Stew (vegetarian stew)
- Jamaican Saltfish Fritters
- Jamaican Fried Chicken
- Jamaican Jerk Sausages
- Jamaican Pepper Shrimp
- Jamaican Spiced Bun
- Bulla Cake
- Jamaican Christmas Cake
- Easter Bun
- Bread Pudding
- Jamaican Hot Chocolate Tea
- Jamaican Sorrel Drink
- Jamaican Ginger Beer
- Jamaican Rum Punch
- Jamaican Ting (grapefruit soda)
- Soursop Juice
- June Plum Juice
- Jamaican Carrot Juice
- Irish Moss Drink
- Pineapple Ginger Drink
- Jamaican Guava Cheese
- Jamaican Tamarind Juice
- Jamaican Star Apple
- Jamaican Sugar Cane
- Jamaican Naseberry (Sapodilla)
- Jamaican Guinep
- Jamaican Otaheite Apple
- Jamaican Sweetsop (Custard Apple)
- Jamaican Jackfruit
- Jamaican Ackee
- Jamaican Ackee Puffs
- Jamaican Ackee Quiche
- Jamaican Pumpkin Rice
- Jamaican Rice Porridge
- Jamaican Saltfish Run Down
- Jamaican Roast Fish
- Jamaican Curried Shrimp
- Jamaican Pineapple Chicken
- Jamaican Jerk Fish
- Jamaican Jerk Lobster
Fruits
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- Breadfruit
- Coconut- young green coconuts provide coconut water and jelly, while the older coconuts are grated to make Jamaican desserts, sweets and coconut milk
- Custard apple
- Guava
- Guinep
- Jackfruit
- June plum (Tahitian apple)
- Mango, many species available locally. The popular species are locally called East Indian, Number 11, Julie, Milli, Stringy, Tommy Atkins, Blackie, Bombay and Graham.
- Naseberry (known as Sapodilla throughout the rest of the Caribbean)
- Otaheite apple (Malay apple)
- Paw-paw (papaya)
- Passion fruit
- Pineapple
- Pomegranate
- Soursop
- Starapple
- Starfruit
- Sweetsop
- Tamarind
Desserts and sweets
- Asham Blue Draws, also called tie-a-leaf because it is cooked in tied banana leaves
- Bulla cake
- Busta coconut sweets (Bustamante Backbone)
- Cornmeal Pudding
- Devon House Ice Cream (variety of quality flavours)
- Gizzada, also called Pinch-Me-Round
- Peanut Drops
- Plantain Tart
- Rock cake
- Rum cake
- Spice Bun / Easter Bun, a popular sweet loaf (sometimes includes raisins or fruit), regular Bun is eaten all year, Easter Bun is often eaten around Easter
- Sweet Potato Pudding
- Tamarind Balls, tamarind fruit rolled into balls and lightly coated with sugar
- Toto
Types of Jamaican cakes include:
- Jamaican Rum Cake
- Jamaican Fruit Cake
- Jamaican Black Cake
- Jamaican Christmas Cake
- Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
- Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding
- Jamaican Toto
- Jamaican Banana Cake
- Jamaican Coconut Cake
- Jamaican Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
- Jamaican Cassava Cake
- Jamaican Breadfruit Cake
- Jamaican Sweet Potato Cake
- Jamaican Yellow Cake
- Jamaican Gizzada Cake
- Jamaican Plantain Cake
- Jamaican Pumpkin Cake
- Jamaican Carrot Cake
- Jamaican Mango Cake
- Jamaican Sorrel Cake
- Jamaican Blue Drawers (Dukunu)
- Jamaican Bammy Cake
- Jamaican Ginger Cake
- Jamaican Coffee Cake
- Jamaican Sugar Cake
- Jamaican Yam Cake
- Jamaican Mango Upside-Down Cake
- Jamaican Passion Fruit Cake
- Jamaican Orange Cake
- Jamaican Lemon Cake
- Jamaican Lime Cake
- Jamaican Guava Cake
- Jamaican Star Apple Cake
- Jamaican June Plum Cake
- Jamaican Tamarind Cake
- Jamaican Pimento Cake
- Jamaican Spice Cake
- Jamaican Cocoa Cake
- Jamaican Honey Cake
- Jamaican Otaheite Apple Cake
- Jamaican Soursop Cake
- Jamaican Ackee Cake
- Jamaican Avocado Cake
- Jamaican Chayote Cake
- Jamaican Chocho Cake
- Jamaican Papaya Cake
- Jamaican Pawpaw Cake
- Jamaican Sugar Banana Cake
- Jamaican Naseberry Cake
- Jamaican Loquat Cake
- Jamaican Egg Fruit Cake
- Jamaican Jackfruit Cake
- Jamaican Pomegranate Cake
- Jamaican Sweetsop Cake
- Jamaican Custard Apple Cake
- Jamaican Bilberry Cake
- Jamaican Breadnut Cake
- Jamaican Jimbilin Cake
- Jamaican Mountain Soursop Cake
- Jamaican Stinking Toe Cake
- Jamaican Guinep Cake
- Jamaican Rose Apple Cake
- Jamaican Hog Plum Cake
- Jamaican Watermelon Cake
- Jamaican Gingerbread Cake
- Jamaican Red Velvet Cake
- Jamaican Rainbow Cake
- Jamaican Marble Cake
- Jamaican Birthday Cake
- Jamaican Wedding Cake
- Jamaican Anniversary Cake
- Jamaican Sponge Cake
- Jamaican Pound Cake
- Jamaican Cheesecake
- Jamaican Marble Sponge Cake
- Jamaican Zebra Cake
- Jamaican Vanilla Cake
- Jamaican Chocolate Cake
- Jamaican Coconut Drops Cake
- Jamaican Peanut Cake
- Jamaican Almond Cake
- Jamaican Cashew Cake
- Jamaican Raisin Cake
- Jamaican Currant Cake
- Jamaican Sultana Cake
- Jamaican Date Cake
- Jamaican Fig Cake
- Jamaican Prune Cake
- Jamaican Pineapple Cake
- Jamaican Golden Cake
- Jamaican Cream Cheese Cake
- Jamaican Butterscotch Cake
- Jamaican Custard Cake
- Jamaican Chiffon Cake
- Jamaican Meringue Cake
- Jamaican Angel Food Cake
- Jamaican Fudge Cake
- Jamaican Jelly Cake
- Jamaican Rainbow Sponge Cake
- Jamaican Strawberry Cake
- Jamaican Blueberry Cake
- Jamaican Raspberry Cake
- Jamaican Blackberry Cake
- Jamaican Cherry Cake
- Jamaican Mulberry Cake
- Jamaican Cranberry Cake
- Jamaican Almond Coconut Cake
- Jamaican Pineapple Coconut Cake
- Jamaican Lemon Coconut Cake
- Jamaican Chocolate Coconut Cake
- Jamaican Pecan Cake
- Jamaican Walnut Cake
- Jamaican Hazelnut Cake
- Jamaican Mocha Cake
- Jamaican Coffee Walnut Cake
- Jamaican Mango Cheesecake
- Jamaican Passion Fruit Cheesecake
- Jamaican Guava Cheesecake
- Jamaican Soursop Cheesecake
- Jamaican Pineapple Cheesecake
- Jamaican Banana Bread Cake
- Jamaican Spiced Banana Cake
- Jamaican Rum Banana Cake
- Jamaican Rum Raisin Cake
- Jamaican Sorrel Cheesecake
Herbs, spices and condiments
- Allspice, known locally as pimento
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Curry powder, Jamaican or Indian, which features a blend of turmeric, coriander, fenugreek, cumin, allspice, black pepper and cloves. Turmeric is the predominant spice and accounts for curry powder's yellow colour.
- Escallion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Jamaican jerk spice, a blend of spices featuring allspice, locally known as pimento
- Nutmeg
- Pickapeppa sauce (usually made from small amounts of scotch bonnet pepper, and vinegar)
- Rosemary
- Scotch bonnet pepper
- Soya sauce
- Thyme leaves
- Turmeric
Soups
Soups play an important role in the Jamaican diet, not only as appetizers, but also as main lunch and dinner dishes because they are filling on their own with tubers/staples (such as yam, sweet potato, white potato, breadfruit, Jamaican boiled dumplings, dasheen and coco), vegetables (such as carrot, okra and cho-cho/chayote) and meat. Many Jamaican families enjoy soup for lunch and dinner. Soup is often had alone, but may be served with hard dough bread or Jamaican water crackers. Soups are almost always served piping hot.
- Chicken foot soup
- Conch or janga (crayfish) Soup
- Gungo peas soup, made with pigeon peas (locally known as gungo peas)
- Mannish water (goat soup)
- Pepperpot soup
- Red peas soup, made with kidney beans, pigstail, beef or chicken, tubers such as coco, yam, potato and sweet potato, vegetables and spices
- Pumpkin soup, made with butternut squash, chicken, chayote (locally known as chocho), and various other vegetables depending on the region.
Beverages
Hot beverages
Most Jamaicans begin the morning with a hot drink, either alone, with Jamaican tough water crackers, bread or along with a breakfast dish.
- Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
- Chocolate tea (Hot chocolate), traditionally made from chocolate balls
- Herbal tea, can be made using packaged tea bags, but is almost always brewed from fresh local herbs. The commonly consumed ones include ginger, and mint. These are the most popular types of beverages served with breakfast dishes.
- Horlicks LASCO Food Drinks, instant powdered drinks made by adding hot or cold water, (Lasco Jamaica) with flavours such as vanilla, creamy malt, peanut punch, carrot, almond, etc.
- Milo
- Ovaltine
Juices and cold beverages
Juices often include local fruits such as pineapple, Otaheite apple, June plum (Tahitian apple), acerola cherry, mango and guava, or combine them to make medleys such as guava-carrot and fruit punch.
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- Red Stripe beer
- Sorrel (drink), made from Jamaican sorrel (roselle), is enjoyed all year round but also drunk around Christmas holidays as a Christmas drink. White rum or wine is often added at Christmas.
See also