Description
This Jamaican Chicken Soup Recipe is a rich and comforting Caribbean dish packed with tender chicken, hearty root vegetables, dumplings, and bold spices. Perfect for a traditional Saturday meal, this soup delivers warmth, nutrition, and authentic Jamaican flavors in every bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs bone-in chicken (thighs, drumsticks, or mixed parts)
- 8 cups water
- 1 yellow yam, peeled and chopped
- 2 Irish potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 chocho (chayote), diced
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (whole)
- 1 bunch fresh thyme
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 packet chicken soup mix (Maggie or Grace brand)
- 1 tsp allspice (pimento)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice (for washing chicken)
Dumplings (Spinners):
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup water (or as needed)
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients
- Clean the chicken with vinegar or lemon juice, rinse, and drain.
- Peel and chop yellow yam, potatoes, carrots, and chocho into bite-sized pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix flour, salt, and water to form a firm dumpling dough. Roll into small, oval-shaped spinners.
Step 2: Cooking the Chicken Broth
- In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil.
- Add chicken, thyme, scallions, garlic, onion, allspice, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes, allowing the chicken to release flavor into the broth.
Step 3: Adding Vegetables and Dumplings
- Add yellow yam, potatoes, carrots, chocho, and the whole Scotch bonnet pepper to the pot.
- Drop in the dumplings one at a time, stirring gently to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the chicken soup mix for extra flavor.
Step 4: Simmering and Serving
- Let the soup cook for another 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Adjust seasoning as needed, and remove the Scotch bonnet pepper if you prefer less heat.
- Serve hot with Jamaican hard dough bread or crackers.
Notes
- Keep the Scotch bonnet pepper whole to infuse flavor without making the soup too spicy. If you want extra heat, pierce or chop it.
- For a richer broth, let the soup simmer longer on low heat.
- If the soup becomes too thick, add more water or broth to adjust consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop Boiling
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
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