Mannish Water

Name: Mannish Water
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 180 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 1 goat head, cleaned and quartered; 2 goat feet, cleaned; 2 green bananas, peeled and sliced; 1 large yam, peeled and cubed; 1 cho cho (chayote), peeled and diced; 3 Scotch bonnet peppers, whole; 6 pimento (allspice) berries; 4 stalks scallion, chopped; 4 sprigs fresh thyme; 1 onion, quartered; 6 cloves garlic; Salt and black pepper; 3L water; Flour dumplings: 1 cup flour, pinch salt, water to bind

Mannish Water (MAN-ish WAH-tah)

Goat Head Soup

⏱ Prep Time 3 hours

📈 Difficulty Hard

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 376 kcal

A hearty, peppery soup made from goat head and feet simmered with green bananas, yam, dumplings, and fiery Scotch bonnet peppers.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 28.0g

Carbs 30.0g

Fat 16.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large stockpot ladle sharp cleaver

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep soup bowl

Garnishes: scallion, thyme

Accompaniments: water crackers, hard dough bread

Ingredients

1 goat head, cleaned and quartered
2 goat feet, cleaned
2 green bananas, peeled and sliced
1 large yam, peeled and cubed
1 cho cho (chayote), peeled and diced
3 Scotch bonnet peppers, whole
6 pimento (allspice) berries
4 stalks scallion, chopped
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 onion, quartered
6 cloves garlic
Salt and black pepper
3L water
Flour dumplings: 1 cup flour, pinch salt, water to bind

Instructions

1
Clean goat head and feet thoroughly with lime juice and vinegar. Place in a large stockpot with water and bring to a rolling boil.
2
Skim any foam that rises to the surface. Add onion, garlic, allspice berries, thyme, and scallion. Reduce heat and simmer one hour.
3
Add yam and green bananas to the pot. Continue simmering for thirty minutes until root vegetables are nearly tender.
4
Mix flour and salt with enough water to form a stiff dough. Pinch off small pieces and drop dumplings directly into the simmering soup.
5
Add cho cho and whole Scotch bonnet peppers. Simmer another twenty minutes until everything is cooked and broth is rich and flavorful.
6
Season generously with salt and pepper. Serve piping hot in deep bowls, ensuring each serving gets a piece of meat and dumplings.

💡

Did You Know?

Mannish water is traditionally considered an aphrodisiac in Jamaica and is always served at wedding receptions and late-night celebrations.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large stockpot
ladle
sharp cleaver

Garnishing

scallion, thyme

Accompaniments

water crackers, hard dough bread

The Story Behind Mannish Water

Mannish water is a deeply traditional Jamaican soup with roots in the island's rural communities where no part of the animal went to waste. The name comes from the belief that the soup imparts masculine vitality, and it became a fixture at weddings, dances, and late-night gatherings. The soup represents the resourcefulness of Jamaican cooks who transformed humble ingredients like goat head into a rich, nourishing dish celebrated across the island.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed late night gatherings, celebrations 📜 Origins: Traditional Jamaican rural

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