Description
This authentic Jamaican oxtail recipe delivers fall-off-the-bone tenderness and bold Caribbean flavors through traditional seasoning, proper searing, and slow braising. A true comfort food classic, this dish brings the richness of island cooking straight to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs beef oxtail, cut into 2–3 inch pieces
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, whole
- 2 large carrots, sliced
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp pimento seeds (allspice)
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for searing)
Instructions
- Rinse oxtail pieces with lime juice and cold water. Pat dry. Season with salt and pepper; let sit 10 minutes.
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear oxtail pieces 4–5 minutes per side until deeply browned. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, and thyme 3–4 minutes until fragrant.
- Add carrots, brown sugar, soy sauce, broth, pimento seeds, and Scotch bonnet pepper. Stir to combine.
- Return oxtails to pot. Cover and simmer on low heat for 3–4 hours until meat is tender and falling off the bone. Add broth as needed.
- Remove from heat, let rest 10 minutes, then serve with traditional sides.
Notes
Always sear oxtail for rich flavor. Maintain a gentle simmer—never boil. Dish improves after resting overnight. For quicker results, use a pressure cooker (35–45 minutes).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: jamaican oxtail, caribbean comfort food, authentic oxtail recipe, slow cooked oxtail