Jamaican Cookery

Learn how to perfectly boil Jamaican ground food including green bananas, sweet potatoes, dasheen, and yellow yam, plus soft white flour dumplings—served hot and ready for your favourite protein. Jamaican curry chicken foot and chicken recipe

Ingredients for Jamaican Boiled Food:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• A pinch of salt

• Water (enough to form dough)

• 2–3 green bananas

• 1 medium dasheen root

• 1 medium yellow yam (Negro yam or soup yam)

• 1 medium sweet potato (yellow flesh variety)

• ½ tsp salt (for boiling water)

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Dough for Dumplings

1. In a mixing bowl, add 2 cups all-purpose flour and a pinch of salt.

2. Use your hand to mix the salt into the flour evenly.

3. Gradually add water while mixing until a dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour.

4. Knead the dough for about 2 minutes until smooth.

5. Cover and let it rest for 20 minutes on the kitchen counter.

Step 2: Prepare the Ground Provisions

1. Fill a large pot with enough water and place it on high heat.

2. Add ½ tsp salt, cover, and bring to a boil.

3. While waiting, wash and peel the sweet potato, dasheen, and yellow yam. Rinse thoroughly.

4. Once the water is boiling, add the peeled root vegetables to the pot.

Step 3: Add Green Bananas

1. After 5 minutes of boiling, peel the green bananas and add them to the pot.

   • Note: Green bananas from overseas can be tougher than Jamaican ones, so you may add them earlier with the other provisions if needed.

Step 4: Form and Add Dumplings

1. Tear off small pieces of the rested dough and roll them into balls.

2. Slightly flatten each ball in the center with your thumb to form traditional Jamaican dumplings.

3. Add dumplings to the boiling pot immediately after the bananas.

4. Gently stir with a fork to prevent the dumplings from sticking together.

Step 5: Boil and Serve

1. Allow everything to boil for 25 minutes or until all provisions and dumplings are fork-tender.

2. Turn off the heat and drain excess water if needed.

3. Serve hot with curry chicken, stew chicken, saltfish, or your favourite Jamaican dish.

Final Thoughts

Jamaican boiled food is a healthy, hearty, and nostalgic meal that brings warmth to any table. Whether you're in Jamaica or abroad, these ground provisions will connect you back to home with every bite.