Thanksgiving does not have to be the same old, same old every year. In fact, you have the right to create your own tradition in your home. I am sharing great Jamaican recipes that will make your Thanksgiving the talk of the town for the next decade. I promise you. If you really LOVE tasty food packed with flavour that are not bad on the budget, this post is for you. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and help make somebody’s year exceptional this year! (Follow me @chefandsteward on all these social media platforms too!
Jamaican Themed Thanksgiving Feast Recipes
APPETIZERS/STARTERS
This Jamaican Solomon Gundy can be made ahead by a few days and served on freshly made tostones for very happy snacking. This is one less thing in the oven. Yay! And the kids will love to help to make the to stones.
This Jamaican Pepper Shrimp is a treat for young and old in Jamaica and a great snack while you make the rest of dinner come together. Make lots and you can make it a day or two in advance and refrigerate. Yes, I am ALL about starters that can be made in advance because that means that any mishaps for the timing of dinner will not be even noticed if people have ample tasty appetizers while they chat (and dinner bubbles along on the stove). Plus is makes the logistics so much smoother and workflow easier. And you have less kitchen clutter on Turkey Day.
I have yet to meet one Jamaican child who does not LOVE Jamaican Beef Patties . You can make these earlier in the day and put them in the oven right before people arrive if you are brilliant with timing or have multiple ovens. The can also be served warm but are best served hot out of the oven. Well, for the initiated Jamaicans among you. There is a funny way to actually eat a hot patty and that is to crack it open in the seam to let out the hot air and eat it with your mouth open without it touching your tongue (or you will have a scorched tongue). But jokes aside, serve on the warm side to avoid people getting burnt tongues right before dinner.
MAIN DISHES AND SIDES
This Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish is the national dish of Jamaica, the sweet land of my birth. You can serve this for an epic breakfast as a start to a Jamaican Themed Thanksgiving Feast or you can simply add it to the dinner buffet. Either way, you are going to make Jamaicans love you. It’s one of those things you either love or hate. I LOVE it! You can get canned ackees in any Jamaican or Caribbean food market or online store.
Instead of regular bread rolls, why not bake your own batch of Jamaican Harddough Bread? This will definitely be a very welcome addition to your Jamaican Themed Thanksgiving Feast!
This Kachumbari Tomato Salad is not Jamaican in origin (it’s Tanzanian) but it has very Jamaican flavours so I am adding it here and it makes a perfect side which is ridiculously easy to make! You must add it if you can get your hands on really great quality tomatoes. I am sure readers in the Southern hemisphere now experiencing summer, will have loads of seasonal tomatoes on hand!
For a great vegan side dish, this Ital Jamaican Red Peas Stewwill be a huge hit! Taste all the flavours of the Caribbean coming together in this scrumptious and moreish stew that will make you lick your spoon!
Is a Jamaican Themed Thanksgiving Feast complete without Jamaican Oxtails and Beans? Hardly. Another lick your spoon stew that gets better as it sits. Just reheat right before serving as it tends to sleep.
Jamaicans almost never gather at a table to feast without Jamaican Rice and Peas. Forget the name, we use beans but we call them peas. Just like how we call avocados pears. Issa Jamaican ting. Even “Ting” the drink is Jamaican. Oh geez I digress. Learn to cook this dish and become a star. And it’s vegan.
You would not think it but we have lots of vegan dishes in Jamaican in both savoury and sweet presentations. This Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding is a great replacement for Pumpkin Pie or you can make both and compare. I vote that the Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding will hit the Pumpkin Pie out of the ballpark. But I am unashamedly biased (though my palate has been featured as a guest chef on mega TV hit, Top Chef Middle East, so you can take her word for it :D. And yes, it is vegan.
One cannot do a thanksgiving without a turkey right? This is my Original Jamaican Jerk Turkey recipe that was published years ago by the mega huge Design Sponge blog. It was actually the first ever Jamaican Jerk Turkey recipe on the internet and every years gets MASSIVE hits and lots of people writing me to tell me that my instructions created THE JUICIEST, MOST SUCCULENT AND TASTIEST TURKEY EVER IN THEIR LIVES. Yes. Those comments are so consistent, I had to shout, like the new upcoming FACEBOOK logo. But seriously, not my words. This one is tried, tested and proven over and over!
Which of these dishes do you love? Which would you add to your table? Talk below!
I would love to be at your family’s table for Thanksgiving! What an amazing spread of Jamaican dishes. Those shrimp and beef patties have me drooling! I think it’s a great idea to shake up traditions and add in some spice and fun.
You and your family are going to LOVE them!
What a wonderful selection of food! The prawns (shrimp) look so inviting and I would love to try the sweet potato pudding!
We call prawns shrimp in Jamaica. I know they are a different variety and very similar in shape. You should make both!
Jamaican Jerk turkey sounds absolutely fabulous! I love all these recipes, what a fun and flavorful way to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Thanks ever so much, it is definitely a great way to add loads of flavour and excitement to the celebration.
Now this is my kind of feast! Everything looks so delicious. I love the idea of Jerk Turkey, and that sweet potato pudding is to die for.
Thanks ever so much! I made a food styling decision in the presentation of the sweet potato pudding. I have never seen it presented that way 😀
Whoa, a feast all right! So many delicious recipes to choose from, I don’t know where to start! Thanks for sharing 🙂
LOL Aleeta! Just start with the starters and work yourself through. Happy Thanksgiving!
These all look amazing and sound so delicious…. I made the tostones, and they were fantastic! Can’t wait to make more of these. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks ever so much for your positive feedback Candice! Much, much appreciated. Happy cooking from my blog!
What a great idea! I love all these festive Jamaican recipes for something different. Can’t wait to try them this season!
You are going to rock up your Thanksgiving for sure 😀
This is such a great twist on Thanksgiving dishes. I celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving last month, but am now thinking of celebrating American Thanksgiving with these!!
You can also pin and bookmark for next year Canadian Thanksgiving as well.
My sister is doing Thanksgiving this year. I just texted her this link. I don’t eat turkey but my sister’s family are sure to enjoy this turkey recipe. Your pics are great, by the way!
Thanks for sharing and mega thanks on your compliments regarding my photography!
I just love all of them. Every dish is delicious and perfect. Love your selection of food too.
Your palate will completely swoon once you try them
These remind me so much of my Guyanese family! I make beef patties a few times a year, will definitely be stealing lots of ideas from this list for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Oh you are in for a Caribbean treat for sure!
My Thanksgiving plans seem so boring now compared to this Jamaican Thanksgiving goodness!
No worries pick at least one dish to spice things up a bit 😀
All of these recipes look fantastic! I especially like that most of the apps are make ahead – super convenient. I’m going to start with the Jamaican Pepper Shrimp, then the Tostones, of course the jerk turkey… Gotta run make my grocery list!
Yes I love being practical in the kitchen and especially so when entertaining for a feast. Logistics and workflow is the difference between loving hosting and pulling out all your hair and spending the whole evening in the kitchen like a short order cook.
Oh heck yes! My two favorite cuisines are Jamaican food and cuban foods. So any Thanksgiving spread full of Jamaican flavors…. sign me up! I want!
That is so great to hear. I have a range of Jamaican recipes on the blog so you will be able to cook to your heart’s content!
I could definitely use some of these next week – they are too good. I was keen to explore a bit more of the Jamaican cuisine, so why not doing it this Thanksgiving, right? 🙂
It would be the perfect time to start indeed!
What a delicious round up of Jamaican dishes! I’m particularly intrigued by the Jamaican jerk turkey. I’ll definitely have to bookmark this so I can try each one of these.
Claire, that Jamaican Jerk Turkey will definitely make you the talk of the town for 10 Thansgivings to come!
Can I come to your house for Thanksgiving? My menu seems so boring now! The Jamaican Jerk Turkey is something my family would love. This is something I will be trying soon!
Take a plane (or two and drop in)! Please give them a taste of Jamaica by making this!
I’m loving how unique this menu is! Those Jamaican Pepper Shrimp are calling my name!
I’ll help them…”Alena, Alena, Alena!” LOL by the way my middle name is Alana. You are destined to cook them!
Well I would be at your Thanksgiving table with a spread like this. How delicious!
LOL Everybody waits for an invitation every year for the very same reason!
These all sound like such delicious things to make. The Jamaican Pepper Shrimp is particularly enticing!
I think I want to make a huge batch for snacking myself as soon as I get my hands on some fresh shrimp again.
Perfect dishes for the festive times coming ahead. Oh my, I’m drooling over here with so much delicious dishes on my screen. I am saving this as I definitely would love to give these dishes a try. Mmmmm!
Thanks so much for saving and stopping by!
What a wonderful festive spreads collection! Every cuisine has so much to offer 🙂 I am going to try few of those for sure. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! What a meal. I love seeing holiday meals from other cultures. Love that pepper shrimp and sweer potatoes the most!
😀 Hope you get to try new dishes over the holidays.
So now I am really hungry after seeing this wonderful feast!!
Thanks Bernice, we like food with lots of flavour
What a feast! The flavors sound amazing – especially that Jamaican Pepper Shrimp!! Pinnging!