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Jamaican Curry Goat Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 82 reviews

Jamaican Curry Goat is a rich, flavorful stew featuring tender goat meat marinated in an aromatic blend of curry powders and spices, then slow-cooked with potatoes, Scotch bonnet pepper, and fresh herbs. This traditional Caribbean dish is perfect for hearty meals, delivering bold spices and tender meat in a savory gravy.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Marinade

  • 4 lbs chopped goat meat
  • 6 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder, divided
  • 1 tablespoon Madras curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground roasted geera (or ground cumin)
  • 2 teaspoons ground Jamaican allspice
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Cooking Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 medium white onion, chopped
  • 6 scallions (green onions), chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
  • 8 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 5 cups chicken stock or broth
  • 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, left whole (do not cut)
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters

Instructions

  1. Prep & season goat meat: Rinse and soak the goat meat in cool water with vinegar and lemon/lime wedges to cleanse it. Drain, rinse well, then pat dry. Place the meat in a bowl and season with 4 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder, Madras curry powder, ground roasted geera, allspice, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Massage the spices thoroughly into the meat for an even coating.
  2. Marinate goat meat: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to infuse deeply into the meat.
  3. Burn curry & brown goat meat: Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, sprinkle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of Jamaican curry powder and stir continuously to ‘burn’ the curry—this deepens its flavor and color, taking about 30 seconds. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, add goat meat pieces and sear until browned on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer browned meat to a clean container and repeat until all meat is browned, adding more oil if needed.
  4. Add aromatics & assemble the stew: Reduce heat to medium. In the same pot, add chopped onion, scallions, garlic, ginger, fresh thyme, and tomato paste. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender and aromatic, stirring to deglaze the pot and incorporate caramelized bits. Return the browned goat meat and any collected juices to the pot. Pour in chicken stock, ensuring the meat is nearly submerged. Add the whole Scotch bonnet pepper and gently stir to combine.
  5. Let it stew: Lower heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer gently for 2 to 2 ½ hours, stirring every 30 minutes to prevent sticking, until the goat meat is extra tender and falling apart.
  6. Add potatoes: Nestle the quartered potatoes into the stew and stir gently to combine. Continue cooking uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and have thickened the gravy.
  7. Serve: Remove and discard the Scotch bonnet pepper and thyme sprigs. Taste the curry goat and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately, traditionally with sides like rice and peas or fried plantains for a complete Caribbean meal.

Notes

  • Soaking the goat meat in vinegar and citrus helps clean and tenderize it.
  • Burning the curry powder in the oil intensifies the flavor and gives a deeper color to the stew.
  • Do not cut the Scotch bonnet pepper, as it will make the stew extremely spicy; leaving it whole adds flavor with mild heat.
  • Marinating overnight enhances the depth of flavor significantly.
  • Check the pot periodically while stewing to avoid burning and to stir the ingredients evenly.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors meld further.

Keywords: Jamaican curry goat, Caribbean stew, goat meat recipe, spicy goat curry, traditional Jamaican cuisine

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/jamaican-curry-goat-recipe/