🇯🇲 Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup 

A True Taste of Island Comfort

Rich, Nourishing, and Uniquely Jamaican

When it comes to Jamaican soups, few dishes are as loved — or as distinctive — as Chicken Foot Soup.

A flavorful, golden broth filled with chicken feet, pumpkin, yam, Irish potatoes, and spinners, this hearty meal has long been a Saturday favorite across Jamaica.

Don’t be fooled by its humble ingredients — Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is comfort in its purest form: thick, savory, and deeply satisfying. From Kingston to St. Elizabeth, every bubbling pot tells the story of resourcefulness, community, and that island-style knack for turning simplicity into something extraordinary.

 🍗 A Dish Born of Ingenuity and Flavor

In Jamaican culture, nothing goes to waste. Long before “nose-to-tail cooking” became trendy, island cooks were already perfecting it.

Chicken feet, rich in collagen and flavor, became the star of a beloved soup that’s as nourishing as it is affordable.

Add to that the island’s signature ingredients — pumpkin, thyme, scallion, pimento, and Scotch bonnet pepper — and you have a bowl that’s equal parts comfort food and cultural heritage.

Today, Chicken Foot Soup is enjoyed by Jamaicans everywhere — served hot on rainy days, at Saturday lunches, or after a long workweek.

🥥 Ingredients You’ll Need

Serves 6–8 people

Main Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken feet, cleaned and trimmed (nails removed)

• 10 cups water

• 1 cup pumpkin, diced

• 1 medium yam, peeled and cubed

• 2 Irish potatoes, peeled and cubed

• 2 green bananas, sliced

• 1 carrot, sliced

• 1 stalk celery (optional)

• 2 stalks scallion (green onions), chopped

• 2 sprigs thyme

• 3 pimento seeds (allspice berries), lightly crushed

• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, whole

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 packet Grace Cock Soup Mix (optional, for extra flavor)

• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Dumplings (Spinners):

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup water

• Pinch of salt

(Mix to form a firm dough. Pinch and roll into thin spinners.)

👨🏽‍🍳 How to Prepare Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup — The Authentic Way

1. Clean and Prepare the Chicken Feet

Wash the chicken feet thoroughly with lime juice and water.

Trim the nails (if still attached) and rinse again.

Add chicken feet to a large pot with 8 cups of water, scallion, thyme, onion, garlic, and pimento.

Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30–40 minutes, until tender.

2. Add Pumpkin and Provisions

Add pumpkin, yam, green banana, Irish potatoes, and carrot.

Simmer gently for 20 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and the soup thickens naturally.

3. Add the Dumplings and Scotch Bonnet

Drop in the spinners and whole Scotch bonnet pepper.

Stir carefully and cook uncovered for 10–15 minutes, until dumplings are cooked and soup has a rich, golden color.

(Optional: Add Cock Soup Mix here for deeper flavor.)

4. Taste and Serve

Remove the Scotch bonnet if you prefer mild spice.

Taste for salt and pepper, adjust to your liking.

Serve hot — and enjoy the comforting flavor of home!

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with:

• Hard dough bread or crackers for dipping.

• Fried plantains on the side for sweetness.

• A cold Ting or ginger beer to balance the spice.

🌿 Chef’s Tips

• The key to the perfect Chicken Foot Soup is slow simmering — that’s how you get the silky, flavorful broth.

• Do not cut the Scotch bonnet — cooking it whole adds just the right amount of flavor without overwhelming heat.

• For extra body, mash a few pieces of pumpkin or potato directly into the soup while cooking.

• To make it even richer, add a splash of coconut milk near the end.

📜 Cultural Note

In Jamaica, Saturday is soup day, and Chicken Foot Soup is one of the most iconic Saturday traditions.

It’s often said, “A good pot of soup brings everyone to the table.”

And in Jamaican homes, that’s exactly what happens — laughter, stories, and memories are all stirred together in the same pot.

It’s not just about food — it’s about connection, nourishment, and that familiar feeling of home.

 💛 Final Word

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is proof that the simplest ingredients can make the most unforgettable meals.

It’s humble, flavorful, and steeped in love — every spoonful a taste of Jamaica’s heart and heritage.

So, gather your ingredients, light your stove, and let the aroma of pumpkin, thyme, and Scotch bonnet fill your kitchen.

Serve it steaming hot — because no matter where you are in the world, this bowl brings you home.

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