Best Jamaican Oxtail Stew Recipe - Delish

If you've never had Jamaican oxtail stew, you're in for a major treat. It's rich, SUPER flavorful, with fall-off-the-bone-tender meat and creamy butter beans. A true special occasion dish. Before you make it, a few things you should know:

1. Oxtails are SUPER fatty.

This is a good thing! Fat = flavor, and oxtails have plenty. If you'd like, you can skim the fat that rises to the surface as you're cooking. Or, if you'd like to be more thorough about removing the fat before serving, refrigerate the stew once you reach the end of step three. Most of the fat should rise to the surface and solidify in an hour or two, making it much easier to remove more of the fat. Once you've done that, you can bring the stew back up to temperature on the stove and proceed with step four.

2. You can control your level of spice.

As written, this stew is definitely for the heat-seekers. If you're not so crazy about spice, opt for a single pepper, or none at all. 

Additionally, if you're looking to make an authentically Jamaican-style stew, keep your eyes peeled for Scotch Bonnet peppers in your grocery store. They're as spicy as habaneros but with a slightly more tropical, almost fruity flavor that is preferred for traditional oxtail stews.

3. You can eat whole allspice berries.

Allspice berries are non-negotiable in this recipe, as they impart a ton of flavor to the final dish. You might be wondering if you're gonna have to fish all of them out of the stew when it's ready, and luckily, the answer is no! They will soften quite a bit while cooking, and when eaten will provide a small burst of allspice flavor and not much more. It's an essential part of the dish, and we promise you won't break your teeth on them. 😉

4. It makes the best leftovers ever.

Since making this stew requires a good amount of effort, we recommend freezing the leftovers in individual servings. This way, when you're ready to eat it again, all you have to do is whip up some rice while the stew defrosts! There's nothing like having a delicious bowl of stew at the end of a long day, so do yourself a favor and make extra for the leftovers. (Stews are always better next day anyway, right?)

Looking for more Jamaican recipes? Try our authentic Jerk Chicken recipe and never go back to boring chicken dinners again!