Jamaican Cookery

A bowl of cabbage soup

I stumbled upon a basic cabbage soup recipe online, but something about it felt... unfinished. In Jamaica, we don’t do bland. So, I reached for Scotch bonnet, fresh thyme, and a touch of pimento to wake up the flavors. Before I knew it, I had a dish that wasn't just soup—it was a bold, comforting meal with a Caribbean heartbeat.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. pumpkin (peeled, washed, cut medium)

• 2 Irish potatoes (peeled, washed, cut medium)

• 2 carrots (peeled, washed, cut medium)

• 1 lb. cabbage (halved, soaked in salted water for 10 mins, rinsed, roughly chopped)

• 1 stalk scallion (crushed)

• 1 green hot pepper (whole)

• A small piece of green thyme

• 4 cups water (plus more if needed)

• 1 packet cock soup mix (remove noodles; optional)

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• Salt (only if needed, as cock soup mix contains salt)

• Optional: Black pepper or other spices (personal preference)

• Instructions

  Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

  Peel, wash, and cut pumpkin, carrots, and Irish potatoes into medium chunks.
  Halve the cabbage, soak in salted water for 10 minutes to remove any hidden worms or eggs, rinse with clean tap water, then roughly chop.

  Step 2: Cook Base Vegetables

  In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil on medium heat.
  Add the pumpkin, Irish potatoes, and carrots. Cover and cook until vegetables are softened. Add a bit more water if needed.

  Step 3: Mash Pumpkin for Flavor and Color

  Once softened, use the back of a spoon to mash the pumpkin in the pot. This will thicken and color the soup base.

  Step 4: Season the Soup

  Wash and prepare scallion, thyme, and pepper.
  Crush scallion with the back of a spoon to release its oils, then add all three to the pot.

  Step 5: Add Soup Mix

  Pour the cock soup mix through a sieve to remove the noodles (discard noodles). Add the seasoning to the pot. Let the soup simmer until it reduces to about 2 cups in volume.

  Step 6: Add Cabbage and Finish Cooking

  Add chopped cabbage to the pot, stir, and cover. Let it cook for about 5 minutes.
  Taste the soup—add salt only if needed. Simmer until it reaches your preferred consistency.
  Remove from heat and serve hot.

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  🍲 Serving Suggestions

  Serve on its own as a light meal or pair with crackers or bread for something more filling.

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  🌿 Nutritional Information (Per Serving – Estimated)

  • Calories: ~120–150 kcal

  • Carbohydrates: ~28g

  • Protein: ~3g

  • Fat: ~0.5g

  • Fiber: ~6g

  • Sodium: Varies depending on use of soup mix and added salt