Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe

March 30, 2018 (Last Updated: March 25, 2020)

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If you’re ready for a finger licking, savory, comforting and flavorful punch to your taste buds, then come a little closer! I am going to tell you my story (and share the recipe) of my favorite Jamaican dish, curry goat! Jamaican curry goat is a savory, comforting and flavorful curry usually eaten with rice, roti and sometimes with a side of fried plantains that will deliver a caribbean curried goat punch to your taste buds!

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My first encounter with Jamaican curried goat was probably as a kid in England, but I knew nothing about deliciousness back then with my palate still developing; but even then, it was a most enjoyable dish for me to eat. Fast forward years later to my college years in Washington D.C, and I rediscovered and fell in culinary love all over again with Jamaican curry goat. As a freshman in college, I was frequently homesick, and would especially miss the flavorful meals my mother would cook for me. For the longest time I was subjected to just the food served at the school cafeteria, and since I was not familiar with the locale (I had just arrived fresh from Nigeria to start school), so I did not venture out much to try out any new foods. Thankfully, thanks to new friendships, I was introduced to the delicious diversity of food Washington DC had to offer, and I even had a mediocre curry goat that I at the time, thought was really good. One day, one of my Jamaican friends convinced me to walk with her to a Caribbean restaurant near my University’s school of business. I decided to pick up some curry goat since my usual favorite: jerk chicken had sold out, and I was kinda hungry… That did it. That was the one. The Jamaican curried goat that annihilated my previous perceptions of curry goat and elevated it from curiosity to love interest! Thus began the beginning of a culinary love affair.

After I had that Jamaican curry goat, it became my favorite Jamaican dish (bumping jerk chicken to second place very quickly), and I frequently took the long walk from my dorm room to this hole in the wall restaurant every other day, just to order myself a plate of this delicacy. It soon became a problem, and I knew if I kept buying curry goat from this place, the little money I had would be long gone before mid-semester. I paused on buying my favorite (and honestly other outside campus food) for a while to save money, but every now and then, to reward myself for doing well on a test or for pulling off an all-nighter, I would go back to pick up some curry goat.

When my Junior year rolled along, my friends and I were privileged to stay in the nicer dorms, and we were no longer subject to the school’s meal plan. This meant we had to cook for ourselves. That same Jamaican friend that had taken me to the curry goat restaurant decided to make some curry goat and invite me over. It was even better than the one I had at the restaurant, so I know I had to learn how to make it from her myself. Luckily for me, she was the generous type, and she taught me how to make my beloved curry goat with rice and peas. She taught me other recipes as well, which I will always be grateful for. In like fashion, I have decided to share my beloved Jamaican curry goat recipe with you!

How to Make Jamaican Curry Goat

Marinade goat meat with spices

Marinade the goat meat with chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet pepper, chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons of salt, ground allspice, and 2 tablespoons of curry powder. Allow the goat meat to sit in the marinade overnight or for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.

After the goat meat has marinated for at least 3 hours, bring out of the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Slice one onion and one scotch bonnet pepper and set aside

Saute meat with onions and pepper

In a large pot, saute the sliced onion and scotch bonnets pepper in the oil on low-medium heat for 10 minutes

Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (1)

Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (2)

Add in the marinated goat meat and 1 tbsp curry powder, and saute on high heat for 5 minutes.

Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (3)

Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (4)

Add water to meat and cook

After the meat has sauteed for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to low, and pour in water to cover the meat about half way.

Add potatoes and cook till completion

While the curry is cooking, peel and cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes.

Once the goat meat is tender, add in the potatoes, turn the heat up to medium, and cook for 10 minutes

Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (6)

After 10 minutes, add in the coconut milk and simmer again for another 10 minutes. Serve the curry goat with boiled rice or with roti

Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (7)

Enjoy my Jamaican Curried Goat recipe! I recommend some zobo drink or sorrel to wash this down and if you are looking for other Caribbean recipes, why don’t you check out my Jerk Turkey Wings?

Please be sure to rate this recipe and leave a comment below if you enjoyed this recipe! Also while you’re here why not take a quick second and subscribe to my newsletter to get email notifications on new recipes, click the links toFOLLOW ME ON PINTERESTor INSTAGRAM? You can catch some behind the scenes action, my shopping hauls, personalized tips and friend-only recipes with videos on my Instagram. Also pin this recipe for later and explore some of my favorite recipes on Pinterest and if you love it as much as I know you will, SHARE with some friends!

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5 from 6 votes

Jamaican Curry Goat Recipe

Jamaican curry goat is a finger licking, savory, comforting and flavorful curry that will deliver a major punch to your taste buds! It is usually eaten with rice and sometimes with a side of fried plantains and is one of the jamaican food staples you absolutely should not hesitate to try!

Ingredients

3 lbs chopped bone in goat meat
13.5 fl. oz coconut milk (about 1 can)
2 small red onions
2 medium size russet potatoes
2 scotch bonnet peppers
½ cup flavorless oil (I used canola oil)
1 clove garlic
3 tbsp Jamaican style curry powder
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp ground allspice

Instructions

Chop 1 onion, 1 scotch bonnet pepper, and 1 clove of garlic and set aside.
In a large bowl (preferably one with a lid), marinade the goat meat with the chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet pepper, chopped garlic, 2 tsps salt, ground allspice, and 2 tbsp curry powder.
Allow the goat meat to sit in the marinade overnight or for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
After the goat meat has marinated for at least 3 hours, bring out of the refrigerator, and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
Slice one onion and one scotch bonnet pepper and set aside.
In a large pot, saute the sliced onion and scotch bonnets pepper in the oil on low-medium heat for 10 minutes.
Add in the marinated goat meat and 1 tbsp curry powder, and saute on high heat for 5 minutes
After the meat has sauteed for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to low, and pour in water to cover the meat about half way.
Cover the pot and allow the meat to simmer for on low heat for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, taste the sauce for seasoning. adjust the salt to your taste, and then add in the sugar.
Continue to cook the curry in the pot covered for another 30 minutes, or until the goat meat is tender.
While the curry is cooking, peel and cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes.
Once the goat meat is tender, add in the potatoes, turn the heat up to medium, and cook for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, add in the coconut milk and simmer again for another 10 minutes. Serve the curry goat with boiled rice or with roti.

Notes

The curry goat is garnished with cilantro for picture purposes, but this is optional
The water level may need to be adjusted during the cooking process if the heat is too high, and the water dries up. Make sure the water in the curry sauce is not dried up.

Jamaican Curried Goat Calories and Nutrition

The approximate nutrition information for this curry goat recipe is shown below based on the listed ingredients . Please note that the nutritional information below, including ingredients and calculations are sourced from a third party site and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will depend on the brands used, measuring standards, portion sizes and other factors.

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Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe - Yummy Medley (2024)

FAQs

What is Jamaican goat curry made of? ›

Chunky pieces of goat are slowly simmered in aromatic blend garlic, ginger, thyme, onions, and hot pepper and with curry taking center stage, until thick and creamy or however, you like it. For amazing results try making your own curry powder with this blend here.

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Is it goat curry or curried goat? ›

Goat curry (Malay: kari kambing, Indonesian: kari kambing or gulai kambing), curried goat, or curry goat is a curry dish prepared with goat meat, originating from the Indian subcontinent. The dish is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine, Caribbean cuisine, and the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent.

Why do Jamaicans eat curry goat? ›

The advent of Curry Goat in Jamaican cuisine is often attributed to Indian indentured laborers in the 19th century. They introduced the technique of currying to the island, which Jamaicans adopted and made their own by using local ingredients and methods.

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Is Jamaican curry goat healthy? ›

The curry powder infused in the Jamaican curry goat is very healthy as it contains a wide range of spices that are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The cuisine is also prepared using leaner meats low in saturated fats, cholesterol and calories as opposed to other curries that use fatty meats.

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Why does my curry goat taste bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

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Why is my curry goat tough? ›

People often make the mistake of turning on high heat to cook the goat meat faster. Goat meat can dry out quickly at high temperature stripping it of flavour. Turn down the heat and cook it more slowly to lock in flavour and ensure a smooth, tender finish for the meat.

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What cut of goat meat is best for curry? ›

The shoulder is a flavorful cut with a good amount of marbling, making it ideal for slow-cooking methods. It is often used in stews, curries, and braised dishes. When cooked low and slow, the shoulder becomes tender and juicy and imparts rich flavors.

What is goat meat called in Jamaica? ›

Chevon, otherwise known as goat meat, is traditionally curried in Jamaica.

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What ethnicity eats the most goat? ›

The industrialized country with the biggest appetite for goat is China, with 3.5 pounds eaten per capita each year. Depending on your family's heritage and the part of the country in which you live, you might have more than a passing familiarity with goat meat.

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Who brought curry to Jamaica? ›

Between 1834 and 1917 some 36,000 Indians emigrated to Jamaica. It is often reported that the concept of curry powder arrived in Jamaica with these immigrants.

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Which ethnic group brought curry goat to Jamaica? ›

East Indians comprise the second largest ethnic group on the island and that can be traced back to some 36,000 Indians who were brought to Jamaica between 1845 and 1921. East Indian cuisine sees its influence on such items as curry goat, curry chicken and roti has been adopted by the Jamaican culture.

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Does goat become more tender the longer you cook it? ›

You can't rush goat, says chef Kevin Onyona. To make the meat tender, you need to cook it a long time — but not too long.

Get More Info Here ›

What do you soak goat meat in before cooking? ›

Because of its low fat content, goat meat can lose moisture and toughen up if cooked at high temperatures and under dry conditions. Goat meat is usually cooked slowly or moderately and is often cooked in sauces or marinated first. One easy marinade is to soak the meat in beer and a 1/4 cup of lemon juice.

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How do you make goat meat taste better? ›

The best way to cook goat meat is to cook it slowly, preferably in a slow cooker, at a low temperature, and with plenty of moisture. Moreover, goat meat should never be served rare; it must be thoroughly and well cooked in order for it to be appealing. Flavorful additions tend to make goat meat delicious.

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What does goat curry taste like? ›

It tastes like Lamb curry but with a richer flavor. Here in our Indian restaurant, you can ask about the level of spiciness of your Goat Curry depending on your taste.

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What is goat meat called in the Caribbean? ›

In South Asian and Caribbean cuisine, "mutton" often means goat meat.

What's the difference between lamb and goat curry? ›

Taste: Goat meat tends to be milder and slightly sweeter when compared to lamb meat. Lamb meat is richer and tastes gamey. Nutrition: Goat tends to have more protein than mutton or lamb. Regarding fat content, lamb has more of it than goat meat.