Jamaican Boiled Food popularly known as ‘Food’ is unprocessed Jamaican `staples. It is a comforting medley of yams, bananas, dumplings, and more. Except for the dumplings, these are healthy food options as they are an excellent source of carbohydrate which breaks down to glucose to give the body energy.
Cooking Jamaican Dumplings and Provision is a heartwarming journey that takes me back to the traditional flavors of the Caribbean. It’s a dish that speaks of simplicity, yet its comforting taste holds a special place in my heart.
I started with a pot of water and I added 2 cups of water along with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil. I cover the pot and patiently wait for the water to come to a gentle boil.
In the meantime, I turned my attention to creating the dough for the dumplings. In a bowl, I mix flour and salt (cornmeal is optional), blending them together with my hands. This is a tactile experience that connects me to the heart of Jamaican cuisine. Gradually, I add water and knead the mixture into a smooth ball of dough.
As the water starts to simmer, I prepare the provisions. I peel and cut the yam and sweet potato into quarters, ensuring they are ready to be added to the pot. The ripe plantains are next, I cut off their ends and make a slice at the side, placing them aside in a bowl. The green bananas are peeled, their skin removed to reveal their tender, starchy goodness.
Taking a piece of dough, I roll it into a flat ball, pat it down, and shape it into a circular form. Along with the yam, sweet potato, and green banana, they are placed into the pot, where they gently simmer for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, I open the pot and give it a stir. I add the ripe plantains and let them boil for an additional 5-8 minutes. It’s the final touch that completes the dish.
When the stove is turned off, the Jamaican Dumplings and Provision are ready to be served.
Recipes that go well with Boiled Food: Jamaican Ackee & Saltfish, Jamaican Curry Chicken, Jamaican Stew Chicken, Jamaican RunDown
Add 2 cups of water into the pot, add a pinch of salt and 1Tsp of oil cover pot and wait for the water to come to boil.
Add flour, Salt, Cornmeal, into a bowl use your hands to mix ingredients. Gradually add water and knead into a ball of dough.
Peel and cut yam, sweet potato into quaters.
Cut ends off Ripe plantain an make a slice at the side put aside in a bowl. Do the same for the green bananas and peel the skin from the banana.
Pull a piece of dough and roll into a flat ball, pat down and make a circular shape and add to boiling water along with yam, sweet potato, and green banana. Boil for 10 mins
After 10 mins open pot and stir. Add the ripe plantains and boil for an additional 5-8 minutes. Then turn off the stove and serve hot.
Add salt to the boiling water to season the boiled food as it cooks. The amount of salt can be adjusted to your taste.
Use a fork or knife to test the readiness of the ground provisions and vegetables. They should be tender but not overly soft. Cooking times can vary depending on the size of the pieces.
