Jamaican Curry Goat Recipe (video)
When I was growing up in Jamaica, Curry Goat was a special dish made for parties and celebrations. It wasn’t something you’d eat every day. Today, curry goat is still special in my house compared to Curry Chicken, which I make all the time. For those of you who have never tried it, it’s a must-have Jamaican recipe. When cooked right, you’ll find it more tender and flavourful than any beef stew you ever had.
Jamaica’s curry dishes are the remnants of the island’s Indian population. After slavery was abolished on the island, almost 40,000 people came from India to work on plantations as indentured workers. Over generations most intermarried with the larger population, so Jamaica’s Indian community isĀ today tiny in comparison. However, their influence in Jamaican cuisine lives on in dishes like curry goat.
Depending on where you live, you may have to go to a butcher to find goat meat. But in communities with large ethnic populations you may even find it at your local supermarket. I get mine at a local West Indian grocer, where they chop it into cubes (bones still in) perfect for making curry goat!
Ingredients
3 lbs Goat meat, chopped in cubes
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black pepper
5-6 Tbsp Curry powder
1 large Onion, sliced
4-6 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, slice and discard seeds (handle with care)
4 Tbsp Cooking oil
4 cups boiling Water
1 large spring Thyme
1 medium Onion, chopped
3 medium Potatoes, each cut in 3 pieces
1 Tbsp Tomato ketchup
Season Meat
Mix together goat meat, salt, black pepper, 4 Tbsp curry powder, 1 large onion sliced, garlic, Scotch bonnet pepper. Please in the fridge overnight (or at least 5 hours) to marinate.
Method
1. Remove the sliced onions and scotch bonnet pepper from the bowl of marinated goat meat and set aside.
2. Heat cooking oil in large saucepan on High. Place goat meat in pan and brown to seal in juices.
3. Once the meat is browned add thyme and 2 cups of boiling water; cover, lower heat to Medium-Low and simmer for about 1 hour
4. Chop 1 medium onion and add to pot along with the sliced onion and Scotch bonnet pepper that was set aside earlier
5. Add 2 cups of boiling water and bring to a boil
5. Taste and remove Scotch bonnet pepper based on your taste; add more curry powder to taste
6. Add potatoes and tomato ketchup; simmer on low heat for 1/2 hour, or until the meat is falling off the bone
Serve with white rice and a green salad

Hi Faye, jen has her new boyfriend staying this week and as he has just told me he loves jamaican food i have decided this is the perfect time to use my frozen goat meat to try out your recipe. I will post how i get on, Tx
Wonderful Tracey! Please do let me know how you get along and definitely send photos!
Hi Faye. Thanks for this recipe. I have tried Levi Roots’ version, but found it difficult to pair with wine. Have you any suggestions?
I know it sounds strange to suggest a white wine with meat, but I think Gewurtztraminer goes great with curries like this.
i absolutely love your site and the recipes in it. I am East African with plenty of Jamaican/West Indian friends and i love the food just didn’t know how to make most of them..we use similar spices and use coconut milk for some of our meals too what you call Roti we call Chapati and eat plenty of currys i have noticed a lot of similar foods albeit cooked differently….i love the caribbean flavour..keep them coming.
so i just subscribed to your youtube channel and bookmarked your site yay!!!
Pendo,
Thank you for subscribing and for all your comments today. You are teaching me a few things. I really like your suggestion about using ginger! Blessings, Fay
you are most welcome:)
Will be making this on Sunday
will let you know how it turns out xx
Curry goat is one of my favorites. I am so thankful that your daughter took the initiative to video tape your cooking sessions, thank you, thank you. I guess you say “wow…why is this man so excited”. Well I’ll tell you…I really love Jamaican food, but I learn best by watching people cook. You really should push to have a Jamaican cooking show on one of the cooking channels. I know it will be a definate hit. I will also make a suggestion to the cooking channels. From “The man that loves to cook”! What recipe do you have for a “black cake”, or are you familiar with this cake?
Thank you….
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support! Yes, I’m familiar with black cake… and every Caribbean island has their version. And everyone on each island has their version. For the holidays I make a Jamaican rum cake. Soon come! Fay
Mmmmmmm yummy yummy!! Goat meat is hard to find in the UK town where we live in, but I found an ethnic shop close to where I work which stocks it on a regular basis. Been waiting for ages to make curried goat, and was pleased to find an authentic recipe that’s been enjoyed by your family for many years. I used more meat. onion and water, so we had some over to enjoy another day, and simmered it for 3 hours in total. As our 11 year old nephew was staying I took out the chilli after the first hour’s simmering, as he’s not so used to the heat and spice that we enjoy. The result was simply divine, tender meat, just a small kick of chilli, but loads of lovely deep spicy flavours, the potatoes take on the flavours wonderfully. So pleased I tried your recipe and this will become a regular fixture from now on. So tempted by your chicken and salt cod recipes, so will have to try them too!! Best wishes to your Faye and your family.
Brian,
Thank you for getting in touch and thank you for sharing your curry goat adventure with me! I’m really glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed this special recipe. Blessings, Fay
Which is the best curry to use when cooking curried goat that will give it the curry goat colour. Mine always look pale in color.
Thank u
Hi Patricia,
I use store brand curry powder… nothing special. But, did you know you can make it yourself. Here are two recipes featured on my site: http://www.cooklikeajamaican.com/ingredient-of-the-week-curry-powder/
We so glad we found your YouTube. Vids been a massive help in keeping the boys full with good food keep it coming we love it
Hi Fay, I have just come across your website and subscribed…quite excited actually as I see that you show a lot of your recipes through video. I actually prefere to watch and learn. I cant wait to try this curry goat recipe..I have tried a few otherds but havent turned out to well… May I ask why you use4 potato? I dont normally see potato in this particular recipe??
Hi Kirsty,
Thank you for getting in touch. All Jamaicans cooks put their twist on our traditional recipes. You don’t have to include potatoes in this recipe, but I do because, as they cook, the potatoes help thicken the curry sauce. Also, when you don’t have much goat meat, potatoes can help to add bulk to the curry. Blessings Fay
Can I also add ground allspice to the marinade?
Hi Simon,
I have never used, allspice in this recipe, but I encourage creativity. If you want to add ground allspice be careful not to overwhelm the other flavours … start with a pinch or two. Let me know how it works out. Blessings, Fay
Fay, I made this curry and it was very yummy thanks. I added a good pinch of allspice. I have made other Caribbean meat curries before, but yours is the best. Thanks for sharing x.
i would just like to say a big big thank you for your recipes, lovely woman you are. cant wait for more recipes to come . x
Made this at my New Year’s Eve party and it went down a great. Thanks a lot!
Just a quick few questions, I used beef as I struggle t find goat but is there any other meat alternative that works well. Also does the recipe freeze well or is better fresh over a few days.
Thanks it was a real treat !
I’ve been a subscriber of your website for some time now, and have wanted to try out your many delicious recipes. I made your curried goat recipe this past weekend for my daughter & her family. I’m a born Canadian, so when I happened upon your website, I knew that you would be the best person to learn from. The curry goat turned out to be absolutely delicious. Thank you Fay, for sharing your great home cooking Jamaican style recipes with us.
Hi Faye,
I love your recipes. They help a lot seeing i didn’t have anyone to teach me how to cook Jamaican dishes. Just a few questions:
1. When you purchase it from the supermarket, is there a cleaning up process as with chicken or do you just go ahead and marinate?
2. A friend bought 2 different types. Is it ok to mix the local mutton with the imported goat of should i use 2 packs of the same kind? Does it taste any different?
Megan,
Thank you for your patience. You can use the goat meat just like you would beef. Your shouldn’t have to clean it. I don’t think you’ll have a problem mixing the meats other than one may cook quicker than the other. You may want to keep it simple and use the same meat, either mutton or goat. By the way, in some places goat is also called mutton.
Ms. Fay,
1st I’d like to say Blessings. 2nd, I graciously thank you for sharing the recipes I grew up with. A lot of them I’d forgotten what my grandma & her cousin would do to prep the food, so in essence I’d forgotten how to prep & cook so many of my favorite dishes. I want to say thank you to you not only for sharing, however, for your daughter’s initiative to record your cooking & share it with the world. Watching you in your kitchen is reminiscent of watching my grandma, I just can’t be under your coat tails, lol.
Again, I thank you. From my family to yours, Blessings from the Most High.
LaTisha Singleton & Family