Jamaican Curry Goat: Caribbean Curried Goat Recipe

March 30, 2018 (Last Updated: March 25, 2020)

If you’re ready for a finger licking, savory, comforting and flavorful punch to your taste buds, then come a little closer! I am going to tell you my story (and share the recipe) of my favorite Jamaican dish, curry goat! Jamaican curry goat is a savory, comforting and flavorful curry usually eaten with rice, roti and sometimes with a side of fried plantains that will deliver a caribbean curried goat punch to your taste buds!

Jamaican Curry Goat served on a plate with rice

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

sliced onions sauteing in pot of oil

Add in the marinated goat meat and 1 tbsp curry powder, and saute on high heat for 5 minutes.

goat meat and curry powder added to pot
goat meat and curry powder cooking in pot

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.

Jamaican curried goat in pot after cooking

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

Jamaican curried goat in pot after cooking

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

Jamaican Curry Goat served on a plate

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?

Please be sure to rate this recipe and leave a comment below if you enjoyed this recipe! Also while you’re here why not take a quick second and subscribe to my newsletter to get email notifications on new recipes, click the links to FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST or INSTAGRAM? You can catch some behind the scenes action, my shopping hauls, personalized tips and friend-only recipes with videos on my Instagram. Also pin this recipe for later and explore some of my favorite recipes on Pinterest and if you love it as much as I know you will, SHARE with some friends! 

Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Jamaican Curry Goat Recipe

Jamaican curry goat is a finger licking, savory, comforting and flavorful curry that will deliver a major punch to your taste buds! It is usually eaten with rice and sometimes with a side of fried plantains and is one of the jamaican food staples you absolutely should not hesitate to try!
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: caribbean
Servings: 8
Calories: 424.6kcal

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.

Jamaican Curried Goat Calories and Nutrition

The approximate nutrition information for this curry goat recipe is shown below based on the listed ingredients . Please note that the nutritional information below, including ingredients and calculations are sourced from a third party site and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will depend on the brands used, measuring standards, portion sizes and other factors.

28 Comments

  • Reply
    Jenni LeBaron
    April 5, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    I have never tried goat before but this dish looks very good so I’m sure I would like it alot! So hearty and comforting.

  • Reply
    lauren
    April 5, 2018 at 10:55 pm

    We’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!

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 9:00 pm

      Thanks Lauren! I would suggest African stores, Indian grocers, or halal meat markets to get goat meat.

  • Reply
    Cindy
    April 6, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    5 stars
    Looks 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

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks 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.

      • Reply
        Sara
        September 9, 2018 at 4:34 pm

        Mexican or other Latino stores often carry it for Birria as well! Best bets if in CA.

  • Reply
    Jordan
    April 6, 2018 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    Oh 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.

  • Reply
    Kitty
    April 6, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    Wow, 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.

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:54 pm

      I 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.

      • Reply
        Kitty
        April 16, 2018 at 10:28 pm

        thanks Lois!

  • Reply
    Ben Myhre
    April 7, 2018 at 8:44 am

    That 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.

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:50 pm

      I am sure you will love it Ben

  • Reply
    Claire
    April 8, 2018 at 2:26 am

    This just looks os rich and delicious.
    A really hearty and warming dish. Which is great as we are heading into Autumn here in Australia.

  • Reply
    Claire
    April 8, 2018 at 2:27 am

    5 stars
    This 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 😀

  • Reply
    prasanna hede
    April 8, 2018 at 5:48 am

    I too had started my love for a whole new set of food when I was in hostel and this curry goat looks flavorful!

  • Reply
    anne
    April 8, 2018 at 11:48 am

    I have never had goat before, but this sounds like a reason to try it!

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:49 pm

      If 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.

  • Reply
    Carol Borchardt
    April 8, 2018 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    I’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!

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:49 pm

      If 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.

  • Reply
    Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
    April 8, 2018 at 10:05 pm

    A 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!

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:47 pm

      I hope you like it when you try it!

  • Reply
    Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
    April 8, 2018 at 10:13 pm

    A 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!

    • Reply
      Lois
      April 8, 2018 at 10:35 pm

      I hope you like it!

  • Reply
    Lynette
    April 9, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    I have never tried goat but your description of this recipe as not only flavorful but “finger licking” has me intrigued!

  • Reply
    Reese
    April 11, 2018 at 10:41 am

    5 stars
    Hi, 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!

    • Reply
      Lois. O
      April 15, 2018 at 8:46 pm

      I 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.

  • Reply
    Haley
    January 31, 2019 at 10:05 am

    This is my dad’s favorite dish.

  • Reply
    Ropa
    August 20, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    5 stars
    This 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!

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