The Ultimate Jamaican Chicken Soup Recipe!

scotch bonnet pepper

🥗Healthier: jalapeño

💰Cheaper: bell pepper

Jalapeños provide heat with fewer calories, while bell peppers are milder and more accessible.

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner, while chicken thighs are often less expensive than breasts.

lime juice

🥗Healthier: lemon juice

💰Cheaper: vinegar

Lemon juice has similar acidity, and vinegar is often cheaper and shelf-stable.

pimento seeds

🥗Healthier: allspice

💰Cheaper: mixed spices

Allspice mimics the flavor, while mixed spices can be a budget-friendly alternative.

Fill a large 10 L pot halfway with water and put it on medium-high heat.

Add salt to the boiling water.

Wash and clean chicken foot with vinegar, then add it to the pot as it takes the longest to cook.

Wash chicken breast with vinegar and season it with one chicken bouillon, set aside to add later.

Cut the pumpkin, removing the seeded part, and add it to the pot in large pieces for easier removal later.

Peel the yellow yam into a bag to avoid staining, then cut it into bite-sized pieces and soak in cold salted water to prevent browning.

Cut up the remaining vegetables (potatoes, carrots, corn) into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Make dumplings by mixing 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of cornmeal, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups of room temperature water until a dough forms, knead for about a minute, and set aside.

Remove the pumpkin from the pot after it has softened, add a Scotch bonnet pepper, pimento seeds, thyme, and scallion for flavor.

Add 8 cups of water to the pot, then mash the cooked pumpkin and return it to the pot to thicken the broth.

Add the dumplings to the pot first, then add the rest of the vegetables, ensuring not to stir immediately to keep the dumpling shape.

Stir the pot after adding the vegetables, cover, and allow it to come to a boil.

After 15-20 minutes, check the soup, stirring gently to ensure nothing is sticking to the bottom, and serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: