Jamaican Pumpkin Chicken Soup Recipe (video)
Chicken Pumpkin Soup is a classic Jamaican recipe that I’ve been making for years. The ingredients are exactly the same ones used to make Jamaican Beef Soup. Literally all you have to do is substitute the chicken in this recipe for 1 lb of stewing beef, though it does take longer to cook the beef til tender.
I think this recipe will bring everyone lots joy. That’s because I got email requests from two people named Joy for my chicken and beef soup recipes! Ladies, thank you for your requests. I think Joy x 2 is a really good thing. So, here’s another hearty recipe for your Saturday Jamaican soup repertoire. I hope you all enjoy this versatile recipe as much as I do!
Ingredients
8 cups Water
4-5 medium skinless Chicken legs (thighs and drumstick)
3 cups diced Jamaican Pumpkin, or buttercup or butternut squash
2 Carrots, chopped (1-inch piece)
3 stalks Celery, chopped (1-inch pieces)
2 Chocho (chayote), peeled and sliced into 16 pieces
1 lb Yellow Yam, cut into large cubes
1/2 cup each red and green Bell Pepper, chopped
1 large Onion, chopped
1 10-oz can condensed Chicken Noodle Soup
2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1 sprig Thyme
1 Scotch Bonnet Pepper
Dumplings
1 cup flour
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
Mix together to make stiff dough. Form into 7 to 8 flat, round dumplings
Method
1. Bring water to a boil and add chicken and diced pumpkin
2. Cook (rolling boil) for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pumpkin is very soft and dissolving
3. Add celery, carrot and chocho and cook on for 10 minutes
4. Remove chicken and set aside to cool before removing the bones
5. Add yellow yam and dumplings (see recipe below) and cook/boil for 15 minutes
6. Add bell peppers, onion and chicken soup to pot
7. Add salt and pepper, and thyme
8. Place whole scotch bonnet pepper on top of soup, cover and cook (rolling boil) for 5 minutes
9. Remove scotch bonnet pepper, thyme, and if necessary remove some dumplings to make room for the chicken
10. Stir in chicken meat and turn off stove and serve.
Thanks for sharing this wonderfull and harty Chicken Soup recipe. I have been making this soup for years and I sometimes use Pimento Seeds, Maggie’s Chicken Soup Mix, and Chicken foot to thicken it up.
Love this recipe! My 4 year old could not get enough and my husband and I really enjoyed it! I did not add the pepper to the pot, just some pepper sauce to my own bowl. Thank you so much for posting this recipe
Can you please post a recipe for festival?
Hello . I would love to make this soup, however where we live, the stores don’t sell the Yam. What can I use instead. Thanks for you comment. God Bless
Can you use regular pumpkin as opposed to squash?
Hi Ernie,
I wouldn’t recommend using harvest pumpkin. Butternut, buttercup or acorn squash are all good substitute for Caribbean pumpkin. Blessings, Fay
Hi Fay, Emily from the UK here, ive just made this and its soooo lovley. my 2 year old ate it all up, i used pumpkin and butternut squash and replaced yam with irish potato. delicious!!
Thank you so much for sharing. a true taste of the carribean
thanks
emily and family. uk
I live in Chicago and I can’t find the yellow yam. Do you think I would find it at a Latin market? Would it be called a yellow yam?
Thanks
Are there no Jamaican restaurants in Chicago? If so, call one and find our where they purchase their tropical yams. Otherwise a Puerto Rican or African grocery may have it. Good luck!
of jamaican heritage so what better way to gain more cooking tips since my mommy doesn’t live in atlanta. thank you your site is God send!!!!!
Hello Fay,
I have followed your video for this soup and the family loves, loves, loves it! I have made it twice, the only thing I added was corn on the cob. Thanks so much for your site. I visit often. I’ve also made the stewed chicken! I’m not Jamacian but love the food! Thanks so much!!!! You are wonderful!!
This recipe was soo good. My family and I are not Jamaican but man this soup was delicious, except instead of chicken noodle soup, I used Grace Cock Soup Mix and I added Grace Coconut milk. Thanks for sharing your recipe, it was amazing!
*This is the BEST chicken soup I’ve ever had! My mother-inlaw makes this and your recipe reminds me of her. My children really love it too! Thank you for sharing!