Jamaican Recipes

Depending on where you're from, this hummingbird cake is either your favorite cake, or you've either never heard of it! But it only takes making it one time to love it. This proven crowd-pleaser is pretty sweet but thanks to bananas, pineapples, and pecans, it's a much more interesting, tropical sweetness, and paired with an extra-light version of cream cheese frosting, it's really a perfect combination.

This is a traditional Jamaican dish I was taught to cook by my grandmother.

This quick one-pot version of Jamaican rice and peas opts for kidney beans, with a kick from Scotch bonnet peppers and red pepper flakes.

This authentic Jamaican recipe is really easy to make. It uses ripe plantains (which are a relative of the banana) as the filling. I like to chill them in the refrigerator until they are cold and serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

This recipe for Hard Do Bread (hard dough bread) is similar to the one sold in West Indian stores. It's a simple white bread that's just slightly sweet.

This is one of my nephew's favorite grilled recipes. Jerk means Jamaican barbecue. This well rounded flavor of sweet, hot, herbal and spicy chicken can be served with rice, beans or pasta. Or just make a chicken sandwich out of it! I also add garlic and a kiwi to the marinade.

He likes it hot, I like it good. We compromise on jalapeno peppers.

Caribbean-style pork chops marinated overnight in a lemon juice and oil marinade with a variety of spices. Use more cayenne pepper to make it really hot!

I got this recipe from my sister, who searches for delicious and unusual dishes. This one lit up the family, and everyone loved it. As it got passed around to family and friends, slight changes occurred. For instance, you can omit the cilantro if you don't care for it or use less nutmeg and more cloves; the possibilities are endless. Just be sure you use caution when working with habaneros. Rubber gloves would be ideal.

A great Jamaican style dish. A spicy blend of herbs, vinegar, and a habanero pepper make this chicken dish unforgettable. Serve with rice, yum!

Spicy marinated chicken.

Holness family recipe for porridge made from cornmeal. This recipe makes enough porridge for one hungry adult or 2 hungry 6-year-olds.

Got this on trip to Jamaica, it's the best jerk chicken I've eaten.

My genius husband came up with this quick and spicy concoction. It has become one of my favorite meals!

Common in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, sofrito is a blend of herbs and vegetables used in Afro-Latin/Caribbean cooking to season rice, bean, and meat dishes. It has no salt, and appeals to those unfamiliar with Caribbean food because of its authentic taste. The ingredient is vegetarian friendly and can be adapted to accommodate vegans. Adapt the ingredient amounts to suit your personal tastes.

I searched high and low for an authentic Jamaican oxtail recipe. It will almost remind Americans of beef stew. I've spent days watching Jamaican cooking videos and international cooks; I wanted to identify what ingredients and techniques were mostly consistent across the board. This recipe is as authentic as it gets, next to being in Jamaica. Be sure to use all fresh veggies and feel free to adjust to your own spice levels. Enjoy with saffron rice or rice and peas. It's rich in flavor, texture, and taste. The meat should literally fall off the bone. So good luck and enjoy!

This is a Jamaican-style banana salsa.

If you can't go to Jamaica, why not bring Jamaica to you with this lively chicken dish! Jamaican curry usually contains allspice, so look for a blend that has it, or make your own. Even with potatoes in the dish, steamed basmati rice is a great add-on, but feel free to leave it out, or use cauli rice to cut back on the carbs.

This recipe was graciously shared with me by a Jamaican friend, many years ago. It makes a delicious sauce, different from any other cranberry sauce I've ever tasted or made. It does not "gel" but you do want to cook it long enough to make a good, thick consistency. You can use 1 tablespoon of excellent quality ground cinnamon instead of the cinnamon stick, if you prefer. Originally submitted to ThanksgivingRecipe.com.

A simple, moist, and tasty spice bun recipe that the whole family will love. Jamaican spice bun is best enjoyed with aged Cheddar cheese.

Bayyinah's authentic Caribbean oxtails. Savory and flavorful oxtails cooked until the meat is fall-off-the-bone delicious.

I've taken these yummy deviled eggs to many events, and folks always enjoy them. They're just a little spicy! Adjust the proportions of the mustards and mayonnaise to taste. I sometimes add a hot Jamaican pepper if I really want to spice them up.

This is another recipe that my boyfriend and I made up. We decided that the normal combo pizza was getting boring so we spiced it up - A LOT. This recipe may not be for the weak at heart. It has some great ingredients such as German salami, portobello mushrooms, and jerk sauce.

A traditional Jamaican chicken and rice recipe, tweaked to be made in the Instant Pot®. Delicious comfort food!