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Best Authentic Jamaican Oxtail Recipe

Authentic Jamaican Oxtail is a rich Caribbean comfort dish made with slow-braised oxtail, traditional green seasoning, butter beans, and bold island spices. Proper marination, deep browning, and slow cooking create fall-off-the-bone meat with a glossy, flavorful gravy.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Caribbean
Calories: 380
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs oxtail cleaned and trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger grated
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 scallions chopped
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
  • 1 tablespoon allspice pimento
  • 2 tablespoons browning sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 carrots sliced
  • 1 can 15 oz butter beans, drained
  • 2 cups beef broth

Method
 

  1. Clean oxtail with vinegar and water, then pat dry.
  2. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, onion, scallions, thyme, allspice, soy sauce, and browning sauce.
  3. Marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  4. Heat oil in a heavy pot and brown oxtail pieces on all sides.
  5. Remove oxtail and sauté remaining aromatics until fragrant.
  6. Return oxtail to pot and add ketchup, thyme, scotch bonnet, and beef broth.
  7. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 2–2.5 hours.
  8. Add carrots and butter beans.
  9. Simmer uncovered 20–30 minutes until sauce thickens.
  10. Remove scotch bonnet, adjust seasoning, and serve.

Notes

For authentic flavor, marinate overnight and brown oxtail in batches. Keep scotch bonnet whole to control heat.