My first encounter with Jamaican curried goat was probably as a kid in England, but I knew nothing about deliciousness back then with my palate still developing; but even then, it was a most enjoyable dish for me to eat. Fast forward years later to my college years in Washington D.C, and I rediscovered and fell in culinary love all over again with Jamaican curry goat. As a freshman in college, I was frequently homesick, and would especially miss the flavorful meals my mother would cook for me. For the longest time I was subjected to just the food served at the school cafeteria, and since I was not familiar with the locale (I had just arrived fresh from Nigeria to start school), so I did not venture out much to try out any new foods. Thankfully, thanks to new friendships, I was introduced to the delicious diversity of food Washington DC had to offer, and I even had a mediocre curry goat that I at the time, thought was really good. One day, one of my Jamaican friends convinced me to walk with her to a Caribbean restaurant near my University’s school of business. I decided to pick up some curry goat since my usual favorite: jerk chicken had sold out, and I was kinda hungry… That did it. That was the one. The Jamaican curried goat that annihilated my previous perceptions of curry goat and elevated it from curiosity to love interest! Thus began the beginning of a culinary love affair.
After I had that Jamaican curry goat, it became my favorite Jamaican dish (bumping jerk chicken to second place very quickly), and I frequently took the long walk from my dorm room to this hole in the wall restaurant every other day, just to order myself a plate of this delicacy. It soon became a problem, and I knew if I kept buying curry goat from this place, the little money I had would be long gone before mid-semester. I paused on buying my favorite (and honestly other outside campus food) for a while to save money, but every now and then, to reward myself for doing well on a test or for pulling off an all-nighter, I would go back to pick up some curry goat.
When my Junior year rolled along, my friends and I were privileged to stay in the nicer dorms, and we were no longer subject to the school’s meal plan. This meant we had to cook for ourselves. That same Jamaican friend that had taken me to the curry goat restaurant decided to make some curry goat and invite me over. It was even better than the one I had at the restaurant, so I know I had to learn how to make it from her myself. Luckily for me, she was the generous type, and she taught me how to make my beloved curry goat with rice and peas. She taught me other recipes as well, which I will always be grateful for. In like fashion, I have decided to share my beloved Jamaican curry goat recipe with you!
How to Make Jamaican Curry Goat
Marinade goat meat with spices
Marinade the goat meat with chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet pepper, chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons of salt, ground allspice, and 2 tablespoons of curry powder. Allow the goat meat to sit in the marinade overnight or for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
After the goat meat has marinated for at least 3 hours, bring out of the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Slice one onion and one scotch bonnet pepper and set aside
Saute meat with onions and pepper
In a large pot, saute the sliced onion and scotch bonnets pepper in the oil on low-medium heat for 10 minutes
Add in the marinated goat meat and 1 tbsp curry powder, and saute on high heat for 5 minutes.
Add water to meat and cook
After the meat has sauteed for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to low, and pour in water to cover the meat about half way.
Cover the pot and allow the meat to simmer for on low heat for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, taste the sauce for seasoning. adjust the salt to your taste, and then add in the sugar
Continue to cook the curry in the pot covered for another 30 minutes, or until the goat meat is tender
Add potatoes and cook till completion
While the curry is cooking, peel and cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes.
Once the goat meat is tender, add in the potatoes, turn the heat up to medium, and cook for 10 minutes
After 10 minutes, add in the coconut milk and simmer again for another 10 minutes. Serve the curry goat with boiled rice or with roti
Enjoy my Jamaican Curried Goat recipe! I recommend some zobo drink or sorrel to wash this down and if you are looking for other Caribbean recipes, why don’t you check out my Jerk Turkey Wings?
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Jamaican Curry Goat Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chopped bone in goat meat
- 13.5 fl. oz coconut milk (about 1 can)
- 2 small red onions
- 2 medium size russet potatoes
- 2 scotch bonnet peppers
- ½ cup flavorless oil (I used canola oil)
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 tbsp Jamaican style curry powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground allspice
Instructions
- Chop 1 onion, 1 scotch bonnet pepper, and 1 clove of garlic and set aside.
- In a large bowl (preferably one with a lid), marinade the goat meat with the chopped onions, chopped scotch bonnet pepper, chopped garlic, 2 tsps salt, ground allspice, and 2 tbsp curry powder.
- Allow the goat meat to sit in the marinade overnight or for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.
- After the goat meat has marinated for at least 3 hours, bring out of the refrigerator, and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- Slice one onion and one scotch bonnet pepper and set aside.
- In a large pot, saute the sliced onion and scotch bonnets pepper in the oil on low-medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add in the marinated goat meat and 1 tbsp curry powder, and saute on high heat for 5 minutes
- After the meat has sauteed for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to low, and pour in water to cover the meat about half way.
- Cover the pot and allow the meat to simmer for on low heat for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, taste the sauce for seasoning. adjust the salt to your taste, and then add in the sugar.
- Continue to cook the curry in the pot covered for another 30 minutes, or until the goat meat is tender.
- While the curry is cooking, peel and cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes.
- Once the goat meat is tender, add in the potatoes, turn the heat up to medium, and cook for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, add in the coconut milk and simmer again for another 10 minutes. Serve the curry goat with boiled rice or with roti.
Notes
- The curry goat is garnished with cilantro for picture purposes, but this is optional
- The water level may need to be adjusted during the cooking process if the heat is too high, and the water dries up. Make sure the water in the curry sauce is not dried up.
28 Comments
Jenni LeBaron
April 5, 2018 at 3:09 pmI have never tried goat before but this dish looks very good so I’m sure I would like it alot! So hearty and comforting.
lauren
April 5, 2018 at 10:55 pmWe’re always up for trying new food! We’ve tried a few Jamaican influenced dishes before but never with goat. I have no idea where I’d find it, but if I do this would be the recipe to try. You make it sounds so flavorful and tasty!
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 9:00 pmThanks Lauren! I would suggest African stores, Indian grocers, or halal meat markets to get goat meat.
Cindy
April 6, 2018 at 2:03 pmLooks so good and I’m definitely trying this out I love game meats. One question though, what’s a good store to buy goat meat in? I don’t think I’ve seen it before even in meat shops. thanks
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:58 pmThanks Cindy! A good place to get goat meat would be your local ethnic market. Indian grocers, halal meat shops, and African stores always have goat meat. If not, a local farm would be your best bet.
Sara
September 9, 2018 at 4:34 pmMexican or other Latino stores often carry it for Birria as well! Best bets if in CA.
Jordan
April 6, 2018 at 5:27 pmOh my goodness this looks divine. I’m always wishing we had a good Jamaican restaurant near us… but if I can make it at home, I guarantee it’s better! I can’t wait to test drive this.
Kitty
April 6, 2018 at 9:03 pmWow, this looks amazing. I’m really curious though. My husband works in DC and my father in law teaches at GW in Foggy Bottom. Is the hole in the wall that you went to still around? I’d love to have reference to make sure I get it just right when I try this out.
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:54 pmI will have to go back there to see if the place is still open. I know it is close to the back side of Howard University’s school of business, on Georgia avenue. I might be going there sometime this summer, so I will come update this comment when I figure out the name of the place.
Kitty
April 16, 2018 at 10:28 pmthanks Lois!
Ben Myhre
April 7, 2018 at 8:44 amThat pot of meat looks absolutely beautiful. This isn’t something that I would regularly make, but I might have to give this one a try.
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:50 pmI am sure you will love it Ben
Claire
April 8, 2018 at 2:26 amThis just looks os rich and delicious.
A really hearty and warming dish. Which is great as we are heading into Autumn here in Australia.
Claire
April 8, 2018 at 2:27 amThis just looks so rich and delicious.
A really hearty and warming dish. Which is great as we are heading into Autumn here in Australia.
I’ll be on the hunt for Jamaican curry powder 😀
prasanna hede
April 8, 2018 at 5:48 amI too had started my love for a whole new set of food when I was in hostel and this curry goat looks flavorful!
anne
April 8, 2018 at 11:48 amI have never had goat before, but this sounds like a reason to try it!
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:49 pmIf you have not tried goat before you might need to ease into it because it has a strong flavor. Maybe you can try a mix of goat and lamb.
Carol Borchardt
April 8, 2018 at 7:22 pmI’ve never had goat before but I know people who have and they LOVE it! Not sure where I can get it around here but I’m sure going to look for it and try this recipe!
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:49 pmIf you have not tried goat before you might need to ease into it because it has a strong flavor. Maybe you can try a mix of goat and lamb.
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
April 8, 2018 at 10:05 pmA few months ago I went to a good friend’s wedding and they had this there. He’s from Jamaica and his mom flew in town. Well, her and the sister’s spent a day cooking so everyone could try traditional Jamaican food and it was a hit. I was surprised at how much I like the goat in curry. Can’t wait to recreate this one for the hubs!
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:47 pmI hope you like it when you try it!
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
April 8, 2018 at 10:13 pmA few months ago I went to a good friend’s wedding and they had this for dinner. He’s from Jamaica and his mom flew in town. Well, her and the sister’s spent a day cooking so everyone could try traditional Jamaican food and it was a hit. I was surprised at how much I like the goat in curry. Can’t wait to recreate this one for the hubs!
Lois
April 8, 2018 at 10:35 pmI hope you like it!
Lynette
April 9, 2018 at 2:05 pmI have never tried goat but your description of this recipe as not only flavorful but “finger licking” has me intrigued!
Reese
April 11, 2018 at 10:41 amHi, I have not tried any of your recipes yet but everything looks so good! The images and simplicity of the directions will make it easy for me to create, thanks! I’m glad I found you!
Lois. O
April 15, 2018 at 8:46 pmI am glad you found me too. When you get to try the recipes one of these days please let me know how you like it.
Haley
January 31, 2019 at 10:05 amThis is my dad’s favorite dish.
Ropa
August 20, 2021 at 9:32 pmThis was pretty yummy!! I think marinading the goat overnight was a good recommendation. I simmered it for like 90min and it was was really tender. Not spicy enough though. Even with the extra red pepper, fresh turmeric and cayenne powder on top of the habanero peppers. Still a good recipe. Thanks for sharing!