How to make Jamaican dumplings

The real Jamaican table is never void of the dumplings. In some homes the dumplings are cooked almost everyday along with yams and green boiled bananas. I can attest that my fiance loves dumplings and if given the chance will eat it every day.




There are two ways to cook your dumplings are that is to either boil them or fry them.

Before I share the recipes with you I will share the variations for both.

Fried Dumplings: -
Is made with flour, baking powder, water and oil for frying. Some people will add butter to the dough when kneading but that is too much fat for me, so I personally do not add butter.

Variations to the fried dumplings include

•  a dash of sugar 
• 1/8 part cornmeal or whole wheat flour
• A dash of herbs such as parsley flakes
• Johnny cakes where meat is added in the center then fried

Here is a kitchen tool to fry your dumplings in!

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Boiled dumplings:-

Is made with flour, salt and water for boiling. It very simple to prepare and the only complication is choosing to mix the flour with cornmeal or whole wheat.

Variation to the boiled dumplings

• Use whole wheat flour instead. When using w/w you would use only half the amount as whole wheat is heavier and you end up eating much less.
• Use part w/w and part white. It's up to you how you mix it.
• Use cornmeal. Again it's up to you the amount you use but start with a small amount at first and see how you like it. Then the next time you make dumplings you can adjust the amount to your liking.

Jamaican Fried Dumplings recipe

2 cups soft wheat flour or baking flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

A pinch of salt

Water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Method

In a bowl add flour, baking powder, salt and combine. Using a tablespoon, add water one tbsp at a time. Using the fingers bring dough together until you form a nice soft dough. DO NOT KNEAD. Dough should be soft and stretchy but not sticky.

When dough is ready heat oil on medium for one minute then turn flames down to medium low. Pinch off a golf size amount and make a ball between the hands, then flatten like a pancake about 1/4 inch thick. Fry in oil on low to medium low until it starts to puff. When the first side has gotten golden, then turn and fry on other side until nice and golden brown.

Drain on paper towels.

Jamaican Plain Boiled Dumplings Recipe

3 cups plain bleached flour 

A pinch of salt

Water for kneading

Water for boiling

In a sauce pan put 4 - 5 cups water to boil on medium to medium high flames, add a pinch of salt.

While your water is heating, in a bowl add flour and salt, combine. Drizzle water a little a time time and form a firm dough. When flour has come together, knead until very smooth and tight. Make dumplings by pinching off 2 golf size ball amount and roll between hands to form a ball, then flatten with finger to about 1/2 inch thickness.

When water is boiling add dumplings and let cook for at least 25 minutes.

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Other dumplings variations

When in Jamaican you can expect various types of boiled dumplings especially in the countryside. These include green banana dumplings where a green banana is grated and added to the flour before kneading. You can add green plantains or even cassava to your flour before kneading. My favorite dumpling is the cassava dumpling.

Happy cooking!

Are you allergic to gluten? Need a low carb flour alternative? Here are some options.