Popular Jamaican Seafood Dishes
One of the best things about visiting a Jamaican restaurant is getting to order food that you may not have had in the past or that you've perhaps had only on a few occasions. There are often numerous examples of this type of food throughout the menu. Oxtail soup and jerk chicken are popular menu items, but you might be interested in browsing the seafood offerings. Given that Jamaica is an island nation, it should be no surprise that seafood is an important part of its cuisine. A lot of Jamaican eateries have several seafood dishes, including the following.
Seafood Boil
When you hear the words seafood boil, you might immediately think of Southern cooking. While it's true that a seafood boil is a popular item in the American South, it's also a staple in Jamaican cuisine. The latter uses a completely different array of spices, which help to give the seafood a unique flavor. Curry, scotch bonnet peppers, and pimento seeds all help to give a Jamaican seafood boil flavor notes that are unique. In terms of the actual seafood, expect to encounter shrimp, mussels, and crab.
Snapper
There are several different varieties of fish that are common in Jamaican cuisine, but there's perhaps no type that is more popular than the snapper. You may see this fish prepared in several different ways, but it's common for it to be pan-fried whole. The sight of a whole fish placed on a platter and surrounded by colorful vegetables can be an exciting sight for anyone who loves seafood. Some people order fried snapper as a main course, but it can also be enjoyable to share as an appetizer with your dining partners.
Shrimp
While you'll see shrimp included in virtually any Jamaican seafood boil you encounter, it's also common to find this type of seafood on the menu in one or more other ways. Depending on the restaurant you visit, you may see pan-fried shrimp served over the rice. Often, the shrimp will be spicy, thanks to the inclusion of one or more hot peppers that are a fixture in Jamaican cuisine. You'll generally have the ability to choose your spice level, so opting for a lower level for your first experience with this dish can be a safe idea. If you don't want something as hot, look for shrimp in curry and coconut sauce. Visit a Jamaican restaurant to enjoy these seafood dishes.
Contact a local restaurant for more information.