Curry Goat Recipe

Let me tell you a story. And please don’t make fun of me after knowing that I didn’t even know that the curry goat recipe even existed. Yes! I know about goat curry recipe, and I love that dish so much. 

But at my university, a Jamaican friend of mine told me about this juicy and tasty cuisine. As a foodie, I couldn’t resist what I heard and brought her in the next day to learn from her and maintain the authentic taste. 

And today, I’m going to share with you that flavorful, mouthwatering curry goat recipes. Because I believe when our tummy is happy, everything feels fantastically fine. So, roll up your sleeves, and let’s start cooking.

Ingredients for Cooking Curry Goat Recipes

The curry goat recipe  is easy to make. And you can cook it to taste like something out of this world when you know the exact ingredients you have to use. 

And the advantage is that you can find those ingredients at any supermarket, or most of them you may already have in your home. 

So, to make the finest Jamaican recipe curry goat ever, let’s take a look at the below ingredients first: 

Ingredients: 

• 2-2 ½ pounds of goat meat would be enough. 
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 big, chopped onion
• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 2 seeded and chopped Scotch bonnet peppers
• 4 tablespoons of curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (13.5 oz) of coconut milk
• 4 cups of chicken broth or water 
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce 
• Salt and pepper according to your taste buds
• Chopped cilantro for garnish (optional, though)
• Lime juice (as much as you like)

Substitutions:

What if you don’t have scotch bonnet peppers? Don’t worry. You can use 1 habanero pepper or 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes instead. 

If you are a vegetarian but love to do experiments with different curries, then swap the goat meat for chickpeas or tofu. But when you are cooking tofu or chickpeas, you have to adjust your cooking times by checking them often. 

Like me, many people don’t love to use coconut milk. So, you can mix chicken broth with heavy cream to have a creamier texture, as I do.

Cooking Curry Goat: Easy Steps

So, did you gather all the ingredients? Then, let’s start making curry goat like a pro with the following easy steps:  

Step 1:

First, we’ll need to clean the goat meat properly under cold running water. Then, dry the meat properly with paper towels to remove water. So, this is about cleaning and drying. 

Now it’s cutting time. You have to cut the goat meat into small pieces for even cooking. If you want to add some extra flavor, slice the meat on both surfaces with a knife (this technique helps to absorb the flavors into the meat easily). Then, marinate the goat meat for a night in a mixture of yogurt, lime juice, turmeric, and cumin. 

Step 2:

Step 2 is all about frying the meat. So, take a large Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot. Then, start heating the vegetable oil at medium-high heat. When the oil gets hot enough, add the goat meat in batches. Sear on all sides, and please make sure that you’re not overcrowding the pot to have even browning.

If the meat turns into the desired golden brown color, pick it up and set it aside. Next, reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped onions to the same oil. Then, cook for about 5 minutes or until they get soft. 

Step 3:

After that, you’ll need to add garlic and ginger. Trust me these two ingredients can make your dish more yummy. Then, mix the curry powder and ground cumin with the garlic and ginger.

Then chop and seed the scotch bonnet pepper smoothly. But dear fellow chef, don’t you dare forget to wear your gloves before you chop the scotch bonnet pepper. Or, you can remove the seeds if you want a milder curry. Then pour in the whole mixture. 

Done? Now, pour the diced tomatoes and soy sauce, then stir the spice mixture. Bring back the brown meat and let it shrink completely into the liquid totally. Simmer it for 1½–2 hours until it achieves softness.

Step 4: 

Is your simmering complete? Then taste and start seasoning with salt and pepper gradually, like the “Salt Bae” as per your need. And if you notice that the meat is soft enough also the sauce is slightly thickened, then your goat curry is ready to make your tummy happy and put a smile on your taste buds. 

Now, just turn off the heat and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro to add a kick to your dish. Finally, you can serve this delicious Jamaican dish with any side, such as steamed rice, roasted veggies, or roti bread. 

Pro-Tips

• If you want to make your curry goat memorable, remember to use curry powder. This ingredient is the heart of your dish.

• Generally, a traditional Jamaican curry powder is made with turmeric, coriander, cumin, allspice, and scotch bonnet pepper flakes. So you can make it at your home easily to complement your dish.

• If you choose pre-made curry powder, then my personal recommendation is to create your own. Because blending your own spice means you can customize it as you want. You can make it smokier. For that, you have to add some smoked paprika! 

• And to cook the best curry goat, always look for the shoulder or leg cuts of the goat meat. Trust me, try it once, and never forget those juicy and yummy bites.
• Don’t worry if you aren’t a heavy eater. Because curry goat tastes better the next day! You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 3 days.

Not So Tender Meat or Thin Sauce? 

Sometimes, the meat may not have a soft texture. Don’t worry, it’s fixable. After simmering, if your goat meat isn’t falling off the bone, you just have to cook it more. An extra 30 minutes would be enough to reach your desired tenderness. 

What about thin sauce? It’s easy-peasy. Remove the lid during the last 15 minutes of simmering and have a thickened sauce. 

Nutritional Benefits of Curry Goat 

Here is the nutritional breakdown of Curried Goat per serving without rice: 

History of Curry Goat Recipe

In the late 1800s, when Indian workers came to Jamaica. And the Jamaican people started to love their slow-cooked goat curries. And later, they gave birth to a new recipe called “Curry Goat” when West African and Indian cooking styles mixed together.

FAQs

Q1. Can I use a different type of meat instead of goat for this curry recipe? 

A:  Okay, if you prepare curry goat without goat meat, would you call it a curry goat recipe? I guess not! However, if you love the whole curry goat recipe but just want to avoid goat meat, then don’t worry! You can still cook this curry recipe by using different meats like lamb or beef. And if you’re using different meats then you’ll need to adjust the cooking time according to the meat you choose. 

Q2. Is it necessary to marinate the goat meat overnight for the curry goat recipe, or can I skip this step? 

A: Yes! Marinating overnight is really an important part of the curry goat recipe. It generally adds extra flavor and tenderness to the dish. But if you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step. But, fella, remember that if you avoid the marinating process, it will affect the overall taste. 

Q3. How spicy is this goat recipe with Scotch bonnet peppers? 

A: Before you add Scotch bonnet peppers to the curry goat recipe, let me tell you a thing. Basically, we all know that Scotch bonnet peppers are too spicy stuff. So, this curry goat recipe can be quite spicy due to the Scotch bonnet peppers. 

Conclusion

So, we are at the end of the curry goat recipe. I hope now you know what exactly you have to do to cook this amazing fusion of West and Indian culinary traditions. The rich flavor and tender meat have made this dish so popular and beloved all over the world. 

And I’m telling you that don’t worry about preparing this dish, because it’s so easy to cook. Yes, whether you’re a seasoned chef or an experienced kitchen staff, this recipe is suitable for all. 

So, no more wasting time. Gather the ingredients, and let’s cook this deciduous Jamaican delicacy.