Three Spicy Jamaican Dishes You Will Flip For

Jamaica is one of the many Islands off of the coast of America which has its own way of doing things. The Jamaican cuisine has been highly influenced by all of the different cultures which have inhabited the island at one point or another. You can see evidence of cuisine from China, Spain, Britain, India and Africa in the food. While the food is known to be spicy as a rule, there are many kinds of foods which are suitable to just about any kind of palate.

To get to know Jamaican cuisine, it is important to make sure that you are trying some of the basic dishes. There are three dishes that you will be able to recognize as being uniquely Jamaican. Jerk chicken, Jamaican patties and curry goat are all dishes which are recognized as being unique to the island. You can try these different kinds of dishes to see which ones are your favorites. Remember to keep some ginger beer close at hand as well as maybe a yogurt drink so that you will be able to quell the heat if it gets too intense.

Jerk Chicken

The blend of scotch bonnet peppers along with allspice and herbs has created a rub which is applied to chicken and other kinds of meats. By applying this solution to the meat well before it is cooked, it is possible to make sure that the flavor goes all the way through. Additionally, it is important to remember that the idea is to preserve the meat using these spices. Because there was not always refrigeration on the island, this was used as a way to maintain chicken in a way which would taste good as well as to make sure that they would not get sick by eating it.

Jamaican Patties

A handy and delicious snack enjoyed in Jamaican cuisine is Jamaican patties. There are different kinds of patties which are all characterized by the golden brown pastry that they are wrapped in. Common fillings include goat, lamb, beef and chicken. Onions and peas are about the only vegetables that you might find inside and these are generally eaten along with a Red Stripe beer. Some will even eat this fried pastry wrapped in coco bread. They are commonly sold in restaurants and by street vendors alike.

Curry Goat

A less spicy alternative that you can try is curry goat. This curry harkens back to the Indian roots of the island while the goat is something which all Jamaican cuisine has in some form. The curry is made with many of the same ingredients that you will find in Indian curry. The main difference is that while it is served with rice, this is the medium grain variety that you would find on the island rather than the long grain variety preferred in India. The higher starch content in the rice makes it sticky so that the curry will be able to stick to the rice as you are eating it.

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