This Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup Recipe is delicious!

If you’re craving a warm, comforting, and flavorful bowl of soup, this Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is a must-try.

It’s a traditional Jamaican dish loved for its bold flavors, nourishing vegetables, and—chicken feet. Yes, chicken feet!

While chicken feet might seem unusual to some, they are loved in Jamaica, especially in chicken foot soup, for the rich texture and depth of flavor they add. And in this Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup Recipe, you’ll love it too!

What is Chicken Foot?

Chicken feet, as the name suggests, are the feet of the chicken.

Chicken feet are packed with collagen, with a rich gelatinous texture.

While they may seem unconventional to some, chicken feet are a true delicacy in many parts of the world and offer an authentic taste of Jamaican cuisine.

What is Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup?

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is a flavorful, comforting dish that is loved in Jamaica. It’s a hearty soup made with chicken feet, ground provisions like yellow yam and potatoes, and traditional soup ingredients like carrots, pumpkin, and green bananas.

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is usually flavored with a blend of herbs, spices, and Scotch bonnet pepper to give it a spicy flavor. Dumplings, often referred to as “spinners,” are also added to help make the soup even heartier and more satisfying.

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is traditionally enjoyed on weekends.

Despite being called “Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup,” it’s important to note that it’s not just one chicken foot that’s used in the dish—many chicken feet are added. So, in reality, it could be called Jamaican Chicken Feet Soup, but in Jamaica, it’s called “Chicken Foot Soup.”

Why You Will Love This Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup Recipe

There are several reasons why you’ll love this Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup recipe:

1. Authentic Taste: This recipe brings a taste of the Caribbean to your kitchen with traditional Jamaican flavors.

2. Nutritious and Comforting: Packed with vegetables, hearty dumplings, and collagen from the chicken feet, this soup is both nourishing and filling.

3. A Great Introduction to Jamaican Cuisine: If you’re new to Jamaican cooking, this is a fantastic recipe to explore the vibrant flavors and ingredients used in Jamaican homes.

4. Budget-Friendly: Chicken feet are an affordable ingredient, and the rest of the soup is made with basic vegetables and seasonings, making this recipe not only delicious but also easy on the wallet.

5. Customizable: You can adjust the heat by adding more or less Scotch bonnet pepper, and you can include your favorite vegetables or leave out the dumplings for a lighter version (however, note that Jamaicans traditionally cook Jamaican chicken foot soup with dumplings).

Ingredients for Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup

To make Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup, you will need the following ingredients:

Chicken feet
Fresh pumpkin
Yellow yam
Chocho (chayote)
Corn
Carrots
Green bananas
Irish potato
Garlic
Onion
Scotch bonnet pepper
Fresh thyme
Pimento (allspice) berries
Scallions
Chicken flavor noodle soup mix
Water
Salt
Lime
Dumplings (Spinners):
- Flour
- Water
- Salt

Essential Kitchen Tools

Large Stockpot: You’ll need a big pot to hold all the chicken feet, vegetables, and dumplings.
Cutting Board: A sturdy surface for prepping ingredients.
Sharp Knife: For chopping the root vegetables and chicken.
Ladle: For stirring and serving the soup.

How to Make Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup

To make Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup, begin by cleaning the chicken feet. Remove the nails and peel off the thin outer skin. Wash the feet thoroughly in a mixture of water, vinegar, and lime juice, then drain and set them aside.

Simmer the chicken feet in a pot with spices and water, then add ground provisions like yam, pumpkin, and green bananas, along with dumplings (spinners).

The soup is flavored with fresh thyme, pimento, and a whole Scotch bonnet pepper for a touch of heat. Be careful not to break the pepper unless you prefer a spicier soup. Let everything simmer gently until the ingredients are tender and the soup is rich and flavorful.

Finally, adjust the seasoning to taste and serve the soup warm.

🍴✨ You can view the step-by-step instructions and the full recipe below.

What to Serve Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup With

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup is a meal on its own, but you can serve it alongside:

Bread: Jamaican bread or regular bread works perfectly with this soup.
White Rice: You may enjoy a scoop of rice to make the meal even more filling.

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup Recipe: FAQs

1. Can I make Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup without dumplings?
Yes, you can make Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup without dumplings, but in traditional Jamaican households, dumplings (spinners) are commonly used. However, leaving them out will still result in a flavorful soup.

2. Which Chicken Soup Mix should I use?
Grace Chicken Soup Mix is a popular option in Jamaica. It adds extra flavor and a rich color to the soup. However, other brands can be used.

3. Are all the ground provisions necessary?
No, you don’t need to use all the ground provisions listed. In Jamaica, people often use what’s available. You can customize the soup by omitting certain ground provisions (like bananas or Irish potatoes) based on availability or preference, while still enjoying a delicious soup.

4. Is Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup spicy?
The Scotch bonnet pepper adds a subtle heat, but as long as it stays whole, the soup will not be too spicy. If you dont like spicy, dont use pper

5. Can I make this Chicken Chicken Foot soup spicier?
Yes, if you want the Jamaican Chicken Foot soup to be spicier, you can slice the Scotch bonnet pepper before adding it to the soup, or use more than one pepper.

6. Can I use other parts of the chicken?
Yes, you can add chicken necks, wings, or backs if you like.

7. Should I remove the chicken feet nails before cooking?
Yes, you should remove the nails from the chicken feet before cooking. Chop off the nails, as they are not edible. Removing them, along with the thin outer skin. This ensures the chicken feet are fully cleaned and ready for cooking. This step is essential.

Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup Recipe

Recipe by easyjamaicanrecipes.comCourse: SoupsCuisine: Jamaican

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

325

kcal

Enjoy this traditional Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup and bring the warmth and delicious flavors of Jamaica straight to your dining table.

Ingredients

1 pound of chicken feet (cleaned, with nails and skin removed)
½ lb fresh pumpkin, peeled and chopped
1 medium yellow yam, peeled and chopped
1 medium chocho (chayote), peeled and diced
1 corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 green bananas, peeled and chopped into 1 to 2-inch pieces
1 medium Irish potato, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 Scotch bonnet pepper (whole, for flavor)
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 teaspoon pimento (allspice) berries
2 scallions, chopped
1 packet chicken flavor noodle soup mix
8 cups water
Salt to taste
Lime: 1, juiced, to wash the chicken
1 tbsp Vinegar, to wash the chicken
For the Dumplings (Spinners):
1 cup flour
water (to form dough)
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken Feet:
Carefully remove the skin from the chicken feet and chop off the nails. Then, wash the chicken feet thoroughly in a mixture of water, vinegar, and lime juice to cleanse them properly. After washing, drain the excess water to prepare them for cooking.
Prepare the Vegetables:
Peel and chop the pumpkin, yellow yam, chocho, carrots and Irish potato.
Slice the corn into 2-inch pieces and chop the onion, garlic, and scallion.
Peel the bananas by cutting off both ends with a paring knife, then make a shallow slit along the length of the skin. Use your fingers to remove the peel then chop into 1-2 inch pieces.
Prepare The Dumplings:
Combine flour, water, and a pinch of salt until the dough is firm, then roll them into thin, long pieces (spinners).
Start Cooking the Chicken Feet:
Place the chicken feet in a large soup pot along with the pimento (allspice), chopped onion, scallion, garlic, thyme, corn, and salt.
Cover the ingredients with boiling water until about 3 inches over the chicken feet and let it cook for about 20 to 30 minutes on medium heat.
Add Vegetables and Dumplings:
After about 20 to 30 minutes, add the chopped pumpkin, carrots, cho cho, yellow yam, green bananas, potatoes and the dumplings (spinners) into the pot.
Pour in enough boiling water to cover all the ingredients. Make sure the vegetables and chicken feet are covered with water.
Stir everything together gently.
Add the Soup Mix and Scotch Bonnet Pepper
Stir in 1 packet of the Chicken Soup Noodle Mix for extra flavor and color.
Add the whole Scotch bonnet pepper without cutting it, as this will add a mild heat to the soup without overpowering it.
Be sure not to break the pepper to avoid making the soup too spicy.
Simmer and Cook:
Cover the pot and reduce the heat to a low simmer.
Let the soup cook for 30-50 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Be careful not to burst the Scotch bonnet pepper while stirring.
Once the soup begins to bubble and the ingredients start to soften, reduce the heat further and allow the flavors to meld.
Keep an eye on the pot to prevent burning or the water from drying out. Gradually add 2-3 teaspoons of hot water if needed to avoid sticking and to maintain the right consistency.
To avoid overcooking the vegetables, check them gradually as the soup simmers. The vegetables should be soft but not overcooked.
Taste and Adjust:
Once the chicken feet are fully cooked, the vegetables are tender (a fork should easily sink through), and the soup has taken on a rich color, taste the soup to see if more salt is needed.
You may remove the Scotch bonnet pepper at this point to prevent the soup from becoming too spicy.
Serve:
Serve the soup warm, with all the vegetables, ground provisions, dumplings, and chicken feet in each bowl.

Notes

If you want the Jamaican Chicken Foot Soup to be spicier, you can slice the Scotch bonnet pepper before adding it to the soup, or use more than one pepper.

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