Jerk chicken is one of many traditional Jamaican dishes.
The Caribbean island nation of Jamaica, with a population of 2.8 million people, is the third most populous English-speaking country in the Americas. Jamaica has a rich cuisine, influenced by both Native American and African origins. When putting together a traditional Jamaican menu, cooks include plenty of starch, vegetables and meat. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Appetizers and Soups
Start your meal off with akkra, fritters made out of black-eyed peas. Deep-fried plaintain balls are also savory treats. For a healthier option, try pepper pot soup, which combines spinach, okra, coconut milk, yams, scallions, beef and peppers. Boil the spinach and beef for two hours until the beef is tender, then add the other ingredients. If necessary, add more water. Simmer the mixture for half an hour until its consistency is thick.
Vegetables and Grains
During the meal, serve a flatbread made from cassava, called bammie. It is a common side dish for fish, and is also a breakfast staple. For a more filling starch dish, serve "rice and peas," made of rice and kidney beans. Coconut milk adds to the dish's tropical flavor. Round out the meal with some baked sweet potatoes or steamed green bananas. If you have greens handy from your garden, serve those as well. Traditional Jamaican greens are mustard, collard, kale, turnip and chard.
Meat and Fish
The signature chicken dish of Jamaica is jerk chicken, roasted over pimento wood from the allspice tree. A jerk marinade is also used to give the chicken its distinctive flavor. Patties of spiced ground beef in a pastry crust are also popular, as are roasted pork and a curry made with goat. As an island nation, Jamaica also incorporates the sea's harvest into its diet. Try some fish poached with lime, called blaff, or crispy deep-fried coconut shrimp.
Desserts and Beverages
At the bottom of your menu, make room for dessert. Coconut cakes called totoes, and cakes made from banana, are both refreshing ways to end a hearty meal. You could also serve a fruitcake soaked in rum, known as black cake. For drinks, serve the traditional Jamaican soft drink of ginger beer. If you want something a little stronger, mix rum and fruit juice together in a cocktail called planter's punch. You can't go wrong with carrot juice or limeade, either.
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