Jamaican Food Guide

Bring the Flavor of Jamaica Home with Quality Kitchen Supplies

Jamaican cuisine spills over with robust spices, fragrant aromas and colorful, vibrant colors representing rich island heritage and culinary tradition. Each dish, from the smokey heat of jerk chicken, to warm stews and sweet fried goods, each bring their own distinct character. To produce consistently accurate flavors means using the appropriate tools. Vortex Restaurant Equipment sells professional kitchen supplies and equipment that enable you to create genuine Jamaican flavor accurately and consistently in your kitchen.

1. Jerk Chicken

The signature flavors of jerk chicken—smoky, spicy, and aromatic—come from a bold marinade made with allspice, Scotch bonnet peppers, and fresh herbs. After marinating, the chicken is traditionally grilled over an open flame to achieve that distinct char and caramelization. In a professional kitchen, a heavy-duty charbroiler with adjustable heat settings is ideal for replicating the authentic texture and flavor of jerk chicken.

Equipment: Charbroiler

• Eurodib CBR36 36″ Natural Gas Radiant Charbroiler

The Eurodib CBR 36 is a durable natural gas radiant charbroiler built for high-volume, professional kitchens. Its 36-inch cooking surface delivers consistent heat—ideal for jerk chicken, adding the signature smoky flavor and char. The radiant system ensures juicy, caramelized results and a perfect jerk crust. Reliable during peak service or prep, it’s a valuable tool for authentic, high-quality grilling.

• Vulcan VCRB36 36″ Propane Gas Radiant Charbroiler

The Vulcan VCRB36 is a solid propane gas charbroiler intended for high-volume kitchens. It has a 36-inch cooking surface with excellent effects of even heating and is great for cooking jerk chicken with a smoky flavor and perfect char. Our gas charbroiler has a radiant system that allows for juicy, caramelized grilling, making this a popular option for creating authentic grilled dishes in a busy kitchen service.

2. Curry Goat

Curry goat is a beloved dish prepared by slowly cooking goat stew with a spicy curry sauce full of spices and spicy Scotch bonnet peppers. A tilt skillet gives an even, controlled heat and makes stirring easy to enhance the flavor development and make this dish unforgettable.

Equipment: Tilt Skillet

• Crown ETS-40 40 Gallon Manual Electric Tilt Skillet- 3Ph,240VThe Crown ETS-40 Manual Electric Tilt Skillet is a 40-gallon heavy–duty manual electric tilt skillet that allows for large capacity efficient cooking. Featuring precise temperature control and large cooking surface, it‘s perfect for slow cooking. Lower the temperature to allow for simmering for dishes such as curry goat. The tenderness of the meat and the rich sauce will all remain consistent in the cooking process. With a heavy–duty construction and a user–friendly tilt feature, the Crown ETS–series tilting skillets are great for busy kitchens where consistency and ease–of–use is required during high-volume service.
• Rational iVario Pro L LMX100CE 26 Gallo Electric Tilt Skillet – 3Ph, 208V
  

  The Rational iVario Pro L LMX100CE is a 26-gallon electric tilt skillet designed for precision and accuracy when it comes to temperature control, which you need for cooking dishes that require slow cooking like curry goat. The iVario Pro allows for both even heat, and consistent tenderness, all while being easy to use in a high–volume, get–it–done kitchen with its heavy–duty construction and tilt feature.

3. Jamaican Patties

Jamaican patties—golden, flaky pockets with seasoned beef, chicken, or vegetables—are a popular snack on the island. To get a crisp flaky crust and juicy filling without any sogginess, proper baking technique is required, which a convection oven provides hot air circulation to evenly bake stuffing content, every time guaranteeing consistent results and mouthwatering flavors!

Equipment: Convection Oven

• Atosa CTCO-50 Half Size Countertop Manual Electric Convection Oven
  
  The Atosa CTCO-50 Half Size Countertop Manual Electric Convection Oven is ideal for lower to medium size kitchens requiring dependable baking performance. The oven utilizes convection technology which allows for an even and consistent heat distribution, which is perfect for baking Jamaican patties evenly to golden brown, crispy and flaky on the outside and juicy and delicious on the inside. While this is a compact oven it is sturdy, easy to use, and a great option for achieving consistent results during busy service periods.

• Unox XAFR-04HS-ETDV Half Size Countertop Digital Electric Convection Oven with HumidityThe Unox XAFR-04HS-ETDV is a compact, digital countertop convection oven with humidity control, perfect for small to medium kitchens. It ensures Jamaican patties bake evenly with a flaky crust and moist, flavorful filling. Durable and easy to use, it delivers consistent, high-quality results even during busy service.

4. Festival

Festival is sweet, fried dough that is often served with fried fish or jerk chicken. It is important to utilize a deep fryer that has precise temperature controls so that you can achieve a crisp outside, soft inside, and not too oily.

Equipment: Fryer

• Vulcan LG400 50Lb Floor Tube Fired Propane Gas Fryer

The Vulcan LG400 is a heavy-duty propane gas fryer. The LG400 offers 50-lb floor tube-fired ability for very high-volume frying needs. Precise temperature control through dual high-temperature thermostat with rapid heat recovery to help achieve consistent frying results. Perfect for preparing festival, the sweet fried dough with a crispy outside and moist inside. Built to hold up in a busy kitchen, the Vulcan LG400 supplies the commercially-grade level performance and quality needed to cheaply and easily prepare authentic dishes.

• EFI RCTFS-40-L 40Lb Floor Propane Gas Fryer 

The EFI RCTFS-40-L is a heavy-duty propane gas fryer with a 40-lb capacity, designed for efficient floor use in busy kitchens. It features precise temperature control and rapid heat recovery, ensuring consistent frying results every time. Ideal for preparing festival, the popular Jamaican sweet fried dough, with a perfectly crispy exterior and tender inside. Built for durability and performance, the EFI RCTFS-40-L delivers reliable, commercial-grade frying for authentic Jamaican dishes.

5. Oxtail Stew

Oxtail stew is a hearty, slow-cooked meal filled with rich, strong flavors and tender meat. A stock pot burner set on low, steady flame with a large cooking vessel is crucial for developing the taste and typical texture of oxtail stew.

Equipment: Stock Pot Burner

• Imperial ISPA-18 Single Burner Natural Gas Stock Pot RangeThe Imperial ISPA-18 Single Burner Natural Gas Stock Pot Range provides consistent, even heat and is perfect for long-cooking of substantial meals like oxtail stew. Built for commercial kitchen use, it handles a lot of cooking with no effort, which makes it ideal for heavy traffic kitchens producing rich, tender meals.

• Southbend SPR1J Single Burner Natural Gas Stock Pot Range

The Southbend SPR1J Single Burner Natural Gas Stock Pot Range is dependable and delivers consistent heat making it perfect for preparing rich, slow-cooked creations, such as oxtail stew. It is built for commercial kitchens and can withstand heavy usage so that you can produce hearty meals regularly in busy establishments without any worries.

6. Callaloo

Callaloo, which is a common leafy green used in Jamaican cooking, is often sautéed with onions, garlic, and pungent Scotch bonnet peppers to make a flavorful side dish that is mildly spicy. It‘s a nutritious, fresh, and earthy counterpoint to rich food like jerk chicken and curry goat, helping to make every meal a tad healthier and a tad livelie.

Equipment: Gas Range

• American Range AR60G 60″ Natural Gas Range With 60″ Griddle
  

  The American Range AR60G is a commercial 60″ natural gas range with a 60″ griddle. It has a deep cooking surface, which is handy for preparing large amounts of food like callaloo. With exceptional heat placement and temperature control, the range ensures flavor and texture is at a vibrant presentation. It is designed for commercial use and it is built to survive a very busy atmosphere. If you are looking for a range to properly prepare authentic Caribbean recipes, the AR60G will likely cover your needs.

• Imperial IR-4-G12 26″ Natural Gas Range With 12″Griddle
  

  The Imperial IR-4-G12 is a 26″ natural gas commercial range with a 12″ griddle head, for a kitchen with limited space. The compact size is useful for cooking smaller quantities of dishes, like callaloo, while still ensuring accurate heat control and even cooking for fresh flavor and precise textures. The IR–4–G12 is built to last in the rigors of commercial kitchen use, and is a dependable option for traditional Caribbean cooking.

  

7. Bammy

Bammy, a traditional Jamaican flatbread made from grated cassava, is typically soaked in coconut milk and then fried or toasted until its exterior is golden and crispy and the interior is tender. It  is typically served with fried or steamed fish and has a mild (slightly nutty) flavor that pleasantly juxtaposes spicier theatrics. Made on a commercial griddle, bammy’s flat shape ensures that it cooks evenly and achieves the right texture, making it a perfect starch to accompany the bold and lively flavors of Jamaican food.

Equipment: Griddle

• Vollrath 40715 Cayenne 14″ Electric Griddle
  

  The Vollrath 40715 Cayenne 14″ Electric Griddle has an impressive and consistent heat across its small cooking surface. This means it’s a great option to make traditional Jamaican food like bammy. The temperature settings help users nail down the right crispy outside and soft inside every time. It delivers easy cleaning and durability for high volume cooking. If you’re in a kitchen focused on quality and authenticity, the Vollrath griddle will help you produce bammy and other flatbreads consistently.

• Star Max 636MF 36″ Manual Propane Gas Griddle
  
  The Star Max 636mf 36″ Manual Propane Gas Griddle heats evenly and with enough heat across large spans of cooking area to be able to cook Jamaican staples such as bammy. The Star Max has manual controls to help around the kitchen turning the temperature down to make sure the outside crispy and the inside is soft and tender, which is necessary for bammy to be cooked correctly. Designed for durability and high volume use, the Star Max is perfect for kitchens dedicated to producing authentic and consistent results.

  Having the right tools in your kitchen is key to experiencing the bold and varied tastes of Jamaican cooking – crispy bammy, smoky jerk chicken, or chunky stews. If you use good quality, decent equipment, then you will get authentic taste, as well as consistency and efficiency with your meals. Whether you are staying faithful to traditional recipes or just exploring new Caribbean inspired meals, the right gear will give you authentic Jamaican flavors every time. Now, are you ready to upgrade your kitchen? Let’s start cooking!