Bone-in goat meat slow-simmered in a rich, aromatic Jamaican curry sauce fragrant with allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet until the meat practically falls off the bone. This is the undisputed king of Jamaican celebration food, present at every party, wedding, and family gathering on the island.
Ingredients
1.2kg bone-in goat meat, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons Jamaican curry powder
1 tablespoon ground allspice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
4 scallions, chopped
6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, whole
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
500ml water or stock
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
Salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons white vinegar
Instructions
1Season the goat meat generously with curry powder, allspice, garlic, scallions, thyme, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Massage the seasonings into the meat and let marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight in the refrigerator.
2Heat vegetable oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the seasoned goat meat in batches, searing on all sides for about 8 minutes total. Do not crowd the pot. Remove and set aside.
3In the same pot, sauté the diced onion for 5 minutes until golden. Add any remaining curry powder marinade and cook for 2 minutes until very fragrant.
4Return the goat meat to the pot. Add water or stock, soy sauce, ketchup, and the whole Scotch bonnet pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
5Cover tightly and cook on low heat for 1.5-2 hours until the goat meat is very tender and falling off the bone. Stir occasionally and add water if the sauce reduces too much.
6Add the cubed potatoes in the last 30 minutes of cooking. They will absorb the curry sauce and thicken it while becoming tender and flavorful themselves.
7Remove the Scotch bonnet pepper (unless you want extreme heat). The sauce should be thick and rich, coating the meat. Adjust seasoning and serve with white rice, rice and peas, or roti.
Did You Know?
In Jamaica, curry goat (never 'goat curry') is the ultimate party food. No Jamaican celebration is complete without a massive pot of curry goat. The dish reflects the island's Indian heritage, brought by indentured laborers in the 1800s who adapted their curry traditions to local ingredients.