Jamaican Curry Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes Jamaican curry different? ›

But perhaps the biggest thing that makes Jamaican curry powder stand out from other curry powders is the use of allspice, which is known for its multidimensional flavor and adds its own, herbaceous and warm twist to the mix. Like many other spice blends, the recipe can vary.

About Jamaican Curry Chicken

Traditional Jamaican curry is made with scotch bonnet peppers and Jamaican curry powder. It's a bold, flavorful dish that's cooked slowly over low heat, allowing time for the spices to develop. It contains pieces of juicy chicken (usually thighs), along with carrots and potatoes.

The greatest difference between the two spice mixes comes into play when examining heat levels. Indian curry powders tend to have more chile powder in them while Jamaican curry powder. Some commercial versions may have a bit of cayenne pepper in them, but most recipes usually omit that spice.

“So you see a lot of cumin, coriander, fenugreek [a herb similar to clover] and turmeric in a typical Trinidadian spice mixture.” Likewise, in Jamaica, a mix of British and Indian influence gave rise to a localized variety of curry goat – the island's most popular curry dish.

With a meaty sauce that covers the veggies you cannot go wrong when serving this hearty meal to your family and friends. Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish.

Once the spices and veg have cooked, add in the coconut milk and a couple cups of chicken stock. Turn the heat up so it comes to a boil and then lower to about medium heat and cook for 10-15 minutes. Just until it starts to thicken! I normally do 10 minutes, but if you like a really thick sauce, take it longer.

The meat is traditionally chicken or pork and is marinated in the spices for several hours before being cooked over a wood fire, to achieve the iconic smoky taste. Traditionally, jerk chicken or pork is cooked in a pit or on a grill, although more contemporary cooking methods are also used nowadays.

Jamaican curry powder contains multiple spices that are good sources of important nutrients. Those nutrients include: Vitamins: Pimento and turmeric both contain moderate levels of vitamin C, while cumin contains vitamin B-1. Turmeric also contains a significant amount of vitamin B-6.

There are three main types of Thai curries—red, yellow, and green—which are categorized by the color of the curry paste. The color of the chilies and other ingredients gives each curry its distinct hue. Traditionally, all Thai curries were made with the same ingredients except for one thing: the chilies.

What ethnicity is curry chicken? ›

Indian subcontinent

Indian cuisine has a large amount of regional variation, with many variations on the basic chicken curry recipe. Indian chicken curry typically starts with whole spices, heated in oil. A sauce is then made with onions, ginger, garlic, and tomatoes, and powdered spices.

Chemical changes occur during cooking. Oven gases in a heated gas or electric oven react chemically with hemoglobin in the meat tissues to give it a pink tinge. Often meat of younger birds shows the most pink because their thinner skins permit oven gases to reach the flesh.

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

Fenugreek (Methi)

This Indian spice is what people say "smells like curry." Of all Indian spices, this spice may be the most essential. You may use up to a few tablespoons in a family size dish near the end of the cooking process, but start with a teaspoon. Fenugreek seeds also have many health benefits.

Jamaican curry goat uses curry powder with well-balanced ingredients compared to Indian curry, where the spices are usually added one at a time while cooking. The latter curry recipes risk some spices having a bigger kick than others, which can be affect the quality of the taste.

Development of the cuisine

East Indian and Chinese influences can be found in Jamaican cuisine like roti, curried dishes, chow mein and sweet and sour meats as a result of indentured labourers who replaced slaves after emancipation.

Jamaican cuisine is unique because of its isolated roots and the way that it has preserved its core flavorings throughout centuries of outside influences. If you're reaching for a glass of water in Jamaica, chances are you are just getting started with the local Scotch Bonnet peppers.

A curry mix has a warm, robust spicy taste as a result of combining roasted and grounded coriander seeds, turmeric, cumin and chili peppers. Other spices commonly found within the blend are fenugreek, clove, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg or ginger.