Jamaican Curry Chicken: Faith, Family & a Table for Eight
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Faith, Food & Fellowship
This recipe was built for eight for a reason. Jamaican curry chicken is the kind of food that makes more sense when the pot is generous and people have somewhere to sit.
For me, Jamaican food carries family memory as much as flavour. Christian hospitality does not require a perfect dining room or an elaborate menu. It asks whether there is room for another person, whether we notice who needs feeding and whether what we have can be shared.
Ingredients — about 8 servings
- 4 lb chicken thighs and/or drumsticks
- 6 tbsp Jamaican curry powder
- 2 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
- 2 tsp pimento/allspice
- 2 tsp thyme
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 2-inch piece ginger, grated
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 scallions, chopped
- Up to 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, adjusted for your table
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 large white potatoes, diced
- 2 cups coconut milk
- About 4 tbsp cooking oil
Food-safety correction: do not wash or rinse raw chicken. Health Canada advises against rinsing raw poultry because splashing can spread bacteria around the kitchen. Wash hands and surfaces after raw-poultry contact and cook chicken pieces to an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F.
Method
- Season: combine chicken with curry powder, all-purpose seasoning, pimento, thyme, onion, ginger, garlic, scallion and Scotch bonnet. Marinate refrigerated if preparing ahead.
- Brown: heat oil in a large heavy pot and brown the chicken in batches.
- Build the pot: return chicken to the pot, add carrots and potatoes, then stir in coconut milk. Add a little water if needed for the consistency you prefer.
- Simmer: cook gently until vegetables are tender, sauce has thickened and the chicken reaches 74°C / 165°F internally.
- Serve: bring the whole pot to the table with rice and peas, white rice or Jamaican boiled dumplings.
The extra-place principle
A family meal can become ministry without turning dinner into a sermon. Make enough to send a container home with somebody. Invite the person who might otherwise eat alone. Let children help set the table. Pray with gratitude if that is your family practice. The point is not performance—it is presence.
Food-safety reference: Health Canada — Poultry safety.
