9 Irresistible Jamaican Snacks To Munch on Day or Night

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Jamaican cuisine is full to bursting with food you can enjoy day and night.

For breakfast, fill up with ackee and saltfish, the country’s national dish. This dish, which you can find on Jamaican food menus in Dubai, is made of ackee (a Caribbean fruit), dried, salted cod, onions, tomatoes, and peppers, is a hearty complete meal that gives you the energy you need to start the day right.

For lunch and dinner, opt for curry goat, oxtail, and spinners and sinkers if you want a hearty meal that can make you feel full for hours. Ital, escovitch fish and fish tea (a Jamaican fish soup) are excellent choices if you want something light.

You also have the option to select from a range of snacks if you find yourself needing a nibble between meals to quell your cravings and energize yourself. If you’re in the mood for Caribbean cuisine, you will be spoilt for choice with the various Jamaican snacks that will tickle your tastebuds and fill your tummy.

Must-Try Jamaican Snacks

If you want to munch on the best Jamaican snacks, opt for the following:

Jamaican Patty

This treat is one of the most sought-after savory foods from Jamaica. It is a baked, flaky pastry with ground meat, vegetables and spices.

Beef is the traditional meat component of a Jamaican patty. However, ground pork, lamb, chicken, fish, and shrimp are now also popular ingredients. There are also pure vegetable, soy and cheese options for this snack.

This snack is a favorite among locals and tourists since it is tasty, hearty and easy to eat. Moreover, you can get it at food carts, eateries and convenience stores throughout the country.

You can get this savory treat at a Jamaican restaurant for a midday snack or as an appetizer before your main course.

Plantain and Banana Chips

Due to the abundance of plantains and bananas in Jamaica, the locals have come up with various ways to cook them. These include making them into chips.

As their name implies, plantain and banana chips are made from ripe plantains and bananas. They are finely sliced and fried or baked until they are crispy.

Some versions of this snack are simply seasoned with salt, while others are rubbed with black pepper, habanero, onion powder and other spices for more exciting flavors.

Aside from being delicious snacks, plantain and banana chips are also great sides for various Jamaican main dishes.

Roasted Plantains

Roasted plantains are irresistible snacks that perfectly combine both sweet and savory flavors.

To make this snack, ripe plantains are sliced and caramelized until they get that golden-brown hue with a crunchy exterior and tender, succulent interior. You’ll end up eating more than one since the cooked plantains are bursting with natural sweetness and a delightful smokey flavor.

Roasted plantains are often enjoyed on their own or paired with savory dishes, making them delectable snacks as well as culinary emblems of Jamaica’s vibrant flavors and rich cultural heritage.

Roasted Corn

Roasted corn is another popular Jamaican snack. In Jamaica, whole corn is rubbed with butter, salt and pepper and fire-roasted or grilled. The additional ingredients and the cooking method bring out the natural sweetness of this grain.

The corn on the cob can also be sprinkled with jerk seasoning to give it that authentic Jamaican flavor.

Roasted corn can be one of the healthiest snacks you can munch on if you eat it without butter and only a sprinkling of salt, pepper and jerk seasoning.

Coco Bread

This Jamaican bread highlights one of the best flavors reminiscent of the Caribbean – coconut.

Coconut milk is added to the usual bread-baking ingredients, giving you starchy, sweet bread. It is often used as a bun for fried or grilled chicken, burger patty, and braised pork or beef.

The sugary version of this bread is a great option if you want something sweet to pair with coffee or tea.

Duckanoo

If you’re looking for something sweet and filling to tide you over until your next meal, opt for duckanoo, Jamaica’s version of ducana, a traditional African dish.

Also called tie-a-leaf and blue drawers, this dish is made of batata (a type of white sweet potato) flour, coconut, raisins, sugar and other spices. These ingredients are mixed, wrapped in a banana leaf, and cooked in boiling water. The outcome is a sweet pudding that will please your palate and satisfy your hunger.

Pepper Shrimp

Pepper shrimp is a Jamaican snack and appetizer known for its bold and fiery flavor. Fresh shrimp luxuriate in a marinade of Scotch bonnet peppers, garlic, onions, thyme, and spices and are then cooked to perfection.

Each bite offers a burst of intense heat from the Scotch bonnet peppers, balanced by the shrimps’ natural sweetness. The herbs and spices introduce multiple layers of complexity, crafting a flavor profile that melds heat with savory richness, enticing the taste buds.

The fiery flavor of pepper shrimp reflects the island’s love for bold and spicy cuisine.

Stamp and Go

Jamaica, Costa Rica, and other Caribbean and Central American countries are abundant with fresh fish, making seafood a staple ingredient in many local dishes. These include Stamp and Go, a traditional Jamaican street food.

Stamp and Go is a fish fritter made from salted codfish, flour, herbs, and spices. The name was coined by old sailors who would “stamp and go” on their way to work, grabbing a quick bite to eat before heading out to sea.

This deep-fried snack is packed with flavor, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. One serving of this street food can make you feel full for several hours, which is why it is also often eaten during breakfast.

Grater Cake

This Jamaican dessert is another sugary snack you can munch on if you have a sweet tooth.

Grater cake is made from freshly grated coconut, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and spices. The ingredients are mixed to form a dense batter, which is then steamed until firm.

This cake is dense, moist and soft with a slightly chewy consistency. The grated coconut gives it an interesting texture.

This dessert has a rich and indulgent flavor with a tropical twist. The nuttiness of the coconut balances the sweetness of the condensed milk and sugar, while the spices add depth and warmth.

Whether you want something savory or sweet while working, taking a break between chores or binge-watching at night, munch on these Jamaican snacks to satisfy your cravings and fill your tummy.