Jamaican Curry Shrimp
Enjoy bold, tropical flavors with Jamaican curry shrimp thanks to coconut milk, curry powder, garlic, and bell peppers. And, of course, we can’t forget the delectable, juicy shrimp. This mouthwatering stew is flavor-packed yet surprisingly straightforward to make.
I know this dish looks exotic and complex, which may scare off some people, but honestly, it’s not any of those. Large, juicy shrimp simmered in a hearty sauce infused with garlic, thyme, ginger, and curry powder are pure yum!!!
Speaking of curry, if you haven’t made my easy curry powder, then you’re missing out. Store-bought curry powder pales in comparison to homemade. So take a little time, try it, and tell me what you think.
The Secret to Extraordinary Shrimp
Besides the perfect curry powder, coconut milk gives this dish a unique flavor. Anyone who has tried Thai curry knows what I’m talking about. Plus, you can have this easy shrimp recipe on the table in about 30 minutes, including prep. Your family will be a bunch of happy campers.
How to Make Jamaican Curry Shrimp
- Season and saute the shrimp, and set aside.
- Sauté onions, garlic, thyme, and curry powder for 2-3 minutes. Add the scotch bonnet pepper if using, pour in the coconut milk, and stir in the tomato paste.
- Pour in the broth, add the carrots, and simmer. Add the bell peppers and cook for a minute or two, and add the shrimp back in. Adjust seasonings and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- If shrimp is not your thing, you can make curry chicken with breast or thighs.
- Use full-fat coconut milk for the best shrimp curry. Or even better, make your own super fast.
- Curries and stews can burn quickly, so stir often and reduce the heat to low for a burn-free stew.
- Some people swear that soaking shrimp in beer for 10 minutes helps their texture and flavor. Just don’t go longer than that, or it can ruin the texture instead of helping it.
Make-Ahead and Leftovers
Overcooking shrimp is easy, so I follow the recipe until it goes in. Let the stew cool and store it in the fridge until the next day. Add the shrimp while the stew is reheating and simmer until it’s done. Enjoy a fast and easy meal.
You can store leftover Jamaican curry shrimp in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for three months. Gently reheat in a saucepan on low just until it starts simmering. It also makes an ideal addition to soups and stews.
Perfect Pairings for Jamaican Curry Shrimp
This recipe is excellent with Jamaican pigeon peas and rice or rice and beans. Simple coconut rice turns this into tropical goodness. Vegetables on the side, like broccoli, side salad, or whatever vegetable suits your mood.
More Incredible Shrimp Recipes
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was first published in May 2016 and has been updated with new tips, fresh photos, and a video.
Jamaican Curry Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1-1½ pounds (450-680g) extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- salt and pepper to taste (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon (2g) Jamaican curry powder
- 2 tablespoons (28ml) cooking oil (canola, sunflower, or avocado works fine)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3-4 large cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon minced garlic)
- 2 teaspoons (2g) fresh thyme, minced (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- 1-2 tablespoon (6-12g) Jamaican curry powder
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (15g) tomato paste
- ½ cup (70g) sliced carrots, blanched or frozen (optional)
- ½ red or green bell pepper, diced (or both red and green)
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1-1½ cups (236-350ml) unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 cup (236ml) broth or more (see notes)
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven. Season the shrimp with salt, pepper, and curry powder. Sauté until barely opaque and slightly curled. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add onions, garlic, thyme, and curry powder to the same pan, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. If using scotch bonnet pepper, add it at this time.
- Add tomato paste, optional carrots, bell pepper, and green onions, followed by coconut milk and broth. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for 7-10 minutes.
- Toss in the shrimp and heat through. Adjust for salt, pepper, and thickness. Enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
- Salting shrimp to taste is easy. Start with ¾ teaspoon per pound of cleaned shrimp. You can always add more later.
- I used chicken broth in this recipe, but making your own shrimp broth is easy. Cover the shrimp shells with some chopped celery and garlic in a saucepan and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until the water reduces by half, then strain and use.
- You can use habanero pepper instead of scotch bonnet pepper, or add a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (adjust to taste) if you want some heat. If not, leave it out completely.
- Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
OMG!!! This recipe is to die for . it is absolutely delicious I used Habanero chilli as it’s my fave and I have them growing in my garden as well as the thyme and spring onions . definitely 10 out of 10 for me
Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know how you do it, but every one of your recipes that I’ve cooked have been outstanding! This one in particular as addicting! I goofed up and used your homemade jerk seasoning blend instead of the Jamaican curry (I’m a sleep deprived mother of an 8 month old, so details can go unnoticed pretty easily). But it was a delicious mistake and I highly recommend it to anyone else making this dish! My husband is from Goa (the tropical part of India), and he seriously licked his plate clean; he loved it so much and said it reminded him of home. Thank you for being my guide to cooking beautiful recipes!
Awww. Thanks Anissa. You made my day. Congratulations on your bundle of joy, and thanks for the delicious recipe variation.
An instant hit recipe! Addictive flavor. Where can I find more of your recipes?!
Hi Jen. Thanks so much for stopping by. At the top of the page there’s a recipe index tab. Click on it and have fun scrolling literally 1,000s of recipes.
Another amazing recipe! Just as easy as you said it would be…and the Jamaican curry blend smells AND tastes SO good.
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you loved it—and yes, that Jamaican curry blend is a game-changer, right? Let me know what you try next—I’ve got plenty more bold flavors coming your way!
This was delicious! (Skipped the scotch bonnet/subbed crushed paprika) Made with beans & rice – also amazing!! Very quick and delicious. Will definitely make this again.
So happy you enjoyed it! Great substitution with crushed paprika, and pairing it with beans and rice sounds amazing. Glad it’s a keeper for you!
This recipe was delicious. We used a habanero since we can’t find scotch bonnets here. I served it with white rice and riced cauliflower for those of us looking for a healthier option. Will be making this again and sharing with friends. Thanks!!!
I am glad you loved this recipe, Shelley! Thanks for stopping by!
It is fast, and delicious. I made it several times and my guests love it. I am confused about the ginger which is mention in introduction of the recipe but it isn’t in the recipe?
I’m so glad everyone loved it. No, ginger is not listed as an ingredient, but Jamaican curry powder definitely has it in there. Hope that clears up the mystery.