For Claudine Bhatti, cooking has always been a fun and interesting hobby. Claudine used to love experimenting with new dishes and learning the techniques and styles of cooking from other cultures. One area Claudine focused on in particular was the delectable taste of Jamaican cuisine.

Jamaican cuisine involves a mixture of native techniques, flavors, and spices as well as influences from other countries who have inhabited the island including Spain, India, Britain, Africa, and China. Some popular Jamaican dishes are based off of variations of cooking styles and techniques brought from elsewhere, but they almost always incorporate the local produce.

With the tropical climate, fruits grow very well in Jamaica. Mangoes, pineapples, bananas, guava, papaya, plantains, ackee, and coconuts are a few of the most popular fruits that are either used in desserts or simply eaten fresh.

Surrounded by the warm waters of the Caribbean, seafood is another major aspect of the Jamaican diet. Shrimp, lobster, tuna, mackerel, red snapper, and jackfish are often incorporated into meals.

Below are some of the most popular traditional dishes from Jamaica:

Ackee and saltfish

Ackee and saltfish is a very popular breakfast dish and the national dish of Jamaica. This dish includes salt cod sautéed with boiled ackee, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and spices like black pepper and pimiento. Unfortunately, because certain parts of the ackee fruit are toxic, shipping restrictions make it difficult to find fresh in the U.S.

Jerk chicken or pork

Jerk is a cooking technique native to Jamaica that involves seasoning meat with a spice mixture known as Jamaican jerk spice. This seasoning usually includes onions, garlic, thyme, allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and hot peppers. Jerk is traditionally applied to chicken or pork.

Pepperpot soup

Even though the average temperature in Jamaica is about 80°F, hot and hearty soups are still very popular in Jamaica. Pepperpot soup is a local favorite and can make for a perfect small lunch or side dish. Despite the name, pepperpot soup is normally not very hot or spicy. One of the main ingredients is callaloo, a leafy green vegetable similar to spinach.