JAMAICAN STREET FOOD! Traveling Jamaica for street food (WEST)

scotch bonnet peppers

🥗Healthier: habanero peppers

💰Cheaper: jalapeño peppers

Jalapeños provide a milder heat while being more accessible.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar offers a lower glycemic index.

pork shoulder

🥗Healthier: chicken thighs

💰Cheaper: pork loin

Chicken thighs are leaner and often less expensive.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: tamari

💰Cheaper: liquid aminos

Tamari is gluten-free, while liquid aminos are often less costly.

Stopped at a jerk hut on the border of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth to try authentic jerk pork.

Observed the jerk pork being cooked over firewood, noting the sweet olive flavor and intense smoke.

Described the jerk pork as tender and almost pulling apart like hummus, with a rich flavor from the spices and smoke.

Traveled five minutes down the road to a spot known for Italian peanuts and peanut soup with peas.

Mentioned the variety of ingredients in the peanut soup including okra, dumplings, white yam, yellow yam, carrot, and peas.

Arrived at a roadside seafood stall at the border of St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland, highlighting the variety of seafood available.

Noted the options of fried fish, steamed fish, raw fish, and grilled items like roasted breadfruit.

Described the festival (a type of fried dumpling) as the best in the world and mentioned the fresh snapper being served with escovitch sauce and scotch bonnet pepper.

Emphasized the freshness of the fish and the intense flavor from the pepper and escovitch sauce.

Visited the famous middle quarters to try pepper shrimp, a staple Jamaican street food.

Discussed the decline of local shrimp and the use of sea shrimp instead, noting the flavor difference.

Mentioned the price of pepper shrimp and the plan to purchase a few pounds to enjoy.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary