Many languages in one cuisine...

Nyam
One of the first Jamaican words I learned was 'nyam'. I suppose it originally is an African word or so and it also has something to do with medicines in New York, but in this case it is a word in Jamaican Creole which means 'to eat'.
Good, I learned one of the most important words in life, isn't it? So don't forget it, 'nyam' is the word to survive in Jamaica ;-)


Jamaican cookery offers a mix of African, Chinese, Indian and European cuisines. It is spicy, aromatic and pungent sometimes, but also greasy, sweet, fruity and refreshing. It's worth it to take some time to explore those exotic dishes.
Recipes as Jerk (chicken or pork), ackee and salt fish, rice 'n peas, mannish water, curried goat, callaloo are typical known as Jamaican.

Frankfurters and goat
But did you know there are Jamaican recipes with German Frankfurters? Jawohl, kein problem! Or did you know that the Rolling Stones were inspired by Jamaican mannish water when they wrote the album Goat's Head Soup in 1973? Yeah mon, after their soup you will dance with Mr. D...

The first cooking on the island was - I suppose - by the Awaraks. They used native ingredients and fish, corn, cassava and callaloo were mainstays of the diet. With the English and the introduction of slavery, English puddings and pasties and African yams, okra and ackee found their way to the island. From 1838, when slavery ended and the British brought over indentured servants from India, various curries became popular. Chinese immigration expresses itself in the popularity of sweet-sour dishes. And yes..., the Germans didn't forget to take their wonderful Frankfurters in their luggage.

Pimento
The pimento tree is the source of allspice, a beloved Jamaican flavoring, and allspice finds its way into many recipes. Another common used seasonings are thyme, curry, ginger, different peppers and parsley. In many recipes Pickapeppa sauce is used, a spicy fruit sauce from Shooter's Hill.


The Jamaican cuisine also is a healthy one. It is made with many unprocessed foods, uses smaller portions of meats, and has a high content of fish, beans, fruits and vegetables. It is an good source for vitamins and other nutrients.

Ital
The vegetarian cooking of the Rastafarians, called Ital cuisine, is an important subcomponent of Jamaica's food culture. Ital focuses on not only the nutritive value of food but also on its medicinal effects. For the Rastafarians Ital is life, for non-Rastas Ital is absolutely a delicious variety on their other food. You should try it, it's lovely.

I collected some recipes which you can browse here, but there are many, many more. Not all recipes are done yet, I am still working on it.

In the meantime you can explore the recipes below.
Don't hesitate to drop yours!