- 1). Find local specialty and Jamaican food stores in your area via Internet search, printed directories and word-of-mouth. Search your local supermarkets and grocers for international foods. Your research of Jamaican recipes will familiarize you with the ingredients you will need.
- 2
Jamaicans love thyme; try thyme-infused oil to add a boost of flavor to your dishes.thyme herb image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
Assess your current pantry. Universal food items used in Jamaican cooking include:
Beans, including kidney and butter, canned or dried,
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
Garlic
Nutmeg, whole or ground
Thyme, dried or fresh - 3
The Scotch bonnet pepper is the featured ingredient in Jamaican Escovitch Fish, which is similar to ceviche.green scotch bonnet pepper image by Wayne Abraham from Fotolia.com
Stock up on Jamaican spices and seasonings:
Allspice, whole (also known as pimento berries)
Cayenne pepper
Chilies, especially Scotch bonnets and habaneros
Ginger, fresh
Jerk seasoning, dry and/or sauce
Jamaican curry powder
Jamaican fish seasoning
Jamaican pork seasoning
Jamaican rose water - 4
For a twist on your traditional sweet potato dish, try Jamaican Carrot Sweet Potato Casserole.sweet potato image by steveinnz from Fotolia.com
Ensure you've got adequate amounts of Jamaican cooking staples:
Ackee, fresh or canned (for the traditional Jamaican ackees and saltfish)
Avocado
Blue Mountain coffee
Breadfruit, canned or fresh
Callaloo, canned
Casava (also known as yucca or manioc)
Coconut, fresh (used in sweets and treats)
Coconut milk (canned or dried)
Sweet potatoes
Plantains
Sweetened condensed milk
Various chutneys, including those made with tamarind, mango and papaya - 5
It's hard to resist the juicy sweetness of papaya, and it melds beautifully with hot, spicy foods, such as jerk chicken or fish.papaya image by Freeze Frame Photography from Fotolia.com
Purchase a few Jamaican treats, too:
Raw sugar cane
Tamarind
Fresh, canned or frozen tropical fruits, including pineapple, papaya, guava, guinep (also known as honeyberry or Spanish lime) and mango
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