Jamaican Boiled Dumplings (2 ingredients)

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Such an easy and beloved staple Jamaican side dish that can be made with two ingredients. Jamaican boiled dumplings are super tasty and were a comfort food for me while growing up.

Use this simple 2 ingredient recipe, you’ll find yourself making Caribbean dumplings like a yaadie in no time. When most people think of Jamaican side dishes their minds instantly flock to rice and peas or festivals. This simple comfort food is often overlooked. If you want to learn how to make Authentic Jamaican rice and peas, check out this simplified recipe.

Jamaicans have 2 different types of dumplings, fried dumplings aka Johnny cakes and Boiled dumplings. Both have two completely different cooking processes however they are both granted similar names.

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I would definitely say this recipe is a staple not only as a side but also cooked with other recipes such as Ital or Vegan Jamaican Pumpkin soup or Pigless Jamaican red stew peas. The dumplings can be cooked in under 30 minutes and serve as a wholesome side dish, served with ackee and plantain or paired in a traditional soup.

How to make Jamaican Boiled Dumplings

Making Jamaican boiled dumplings is quite simple if using the right methods. This recipe is less measurement based and requires using judgement. Especially with the water amount and kneading the dough into balls.

The first step is to sift your flour of choice into a large bowl. I usually use white non-bleached flour as my personal go to but have also experimented with whole wheat flour or even oatmeal for added nutrition. Just be aware that the grainier your flour is, the grainier the dumpling will be once cooked.

Once the flour is in the bowl, slowly, (and I put major emphasis on the slowly part) pour in your water. Mixing and kneading with each amount you add. You may find yourself not needing to add the whole amount or needing to add a little (a likkle as we say in Jamaica) bit more. Using personal judgement is key to creating Jamaican boiled dumplings.

Tips for making Jamaican Boiled Dumplings

As said, pour the water in with the dough very slowly/gradually or else you’ll need to add a lot more flour to make the mix even again.

Once an appropriate amount of water has been added, knead the dough until a firm ball has been formed. The dough will not be sticky but almost sleek. If its still sticky, continue to add more flour until you can hold it in your hands without much residue getting left behind.

Grab a golf ball sized amount and begin to roll it into a perfectly round ball.

The dumplings can be formed into two shaped, a round circle or an elongated thin oval-like shape. When using this recipe as a side, I typically like to form them into circles but when I added dumplings to soup or stew, we form them into the ovals.

To form a proper circle shape, grab the desired amount, form them into a ball. Use the bottom palm of your hand to flatten. You don’t want them too thin or two thick, just about 1/2 an inch is fine.

Using the bottom palm of your hand or thumb to press in the middle gives the dumpling that signature look.

This recipe is only 2 ingredients to keep it simplified. Salt and other ingredients such as cornmeal or oatmeal can be added but it will alter the taste of the dumplings.

The dumplings must be added to a pot of boiling water as opposed to pre boiled. If the water is not already boiled, it may change the consistency of the dumplings.

The dumplings will boil and cook for about 30 minutes and that’s it! Its a super simple recipe with the hardest part coming in during the kneading and water process.

Gluten free & Alkaline Jamaican Boiled Dumplings

Jamaican boiled dumplings can easily be made alkaline by subbing white flour for spelt flour. The taste will defiantly be a lot more hearty and ‘hard’ but will serve a much more nutritious value.

Here is an awesome and reliable brand for alkaline spelt flour.

Here are a few recommendations of gluten free flours that would work for this recipe:

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose

Arrow Head Mill’s All Purpose Gluten Free

King Arthur Gluten Free

What to eat with Jamaican Boiled Dumplings

As mentioned before, these boiled dumplings make a magnificent side dish for other popular Jamaican dishes. Boiled dumplings can usually be seen served alongside:

• Ackee and salt “fish”
• Jamaican red stew peas
• Callallo and cooked green banana
• Jamaican Pumpkin Soup
• Steamed Cabbage

How to store Jamaican Boiled Dumplings

In order to maintain freshness, these dumplings can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week. They can also be stored in an airtight plastic baggy stored in the freezer for about 2 weeks.

Dumplings aren’t something you want to keep sitting in your fridge forever, especially since they’re so simple to make. If you find that you made too much to eat, try this original hack commonly done in Jamaica.

When my dad had a lot of extra boiled dumplings, he would wait until they got a few days old, cut them in half, and fry until golden.

It might sound a bit strange but this is seriously one of the most delicious things ever. They can be used as bread, top them with fresh avocado or serve with ackee. They are so simple yet offer such an amazing and authentic Caribbean taste.

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Check out these other authentic Jamaican recipes you may enjoy

Jamaican Lentil potato Curry
Authentic Jamaican Rice and Peas
Steamed Cabbage (Easy, healthy, may assist in weight loss