Jamaican Cabbage and Shrimp
Quick stir-fried Jamaican cabbage and shrimp seasoned with aromatic spices and topped with sautéed bacon is a delicious side dish or main dish. A healthy option for quick and easy weeknight dinners with tropical Caribbean vibes.
Cabbage is very often overlooked, underrated, and often goes to waste. But don’t let it go bad and throw it away. Take that cabbage, or buy some at the supermarket, and turn it into something really tasty and fuss-free.
One of my favorite ways to prepare cabbage is to infuse it with smoked paprika. Oh yes! And bacon too! Everything is always better with bacon, right? Yes, this recipe calls for bacon, and bacon drippings might not be the healthiest of choices, but I tell you it really rocks!
Caribbean-Style Cabbage
This Jamaican cabbage and shrimp is a little spicy, super simple to make, and extremely flavorful. It uses familiar Caribbean ingredients: thyme, garlic, allspice, and scotch bonnet pepper, making it convenient for a crazy weeknight meal.
How to Make Jamaican Cabbage and Shrimp
Chop the cabbage, sauté the shrimp, fry the bacon, sauté the seasonings, add the cabbage, and simmer until tender. Enjoy.
Recipe Notes
- Omit the bacon for a pork-free option, but please do include smoked paprika if you love the smoky flavor.
- The scotch bonnet pepper is optional. I usually just throw the whole thing in the pot because I want the flavor, not the heat, so my little man can enjoy it too.
- Feel free to swap out the shrimp with protein of your choice or leave it out completely.
- Serve with rice or fried or boiled plantains.
More Spicy Caribbean Recipes to Try
Watch How to Make It
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Jamaican Cabbage and Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 small head cabbage, chopped (5-6 cups)
- 1-2 tablespoons (15-30g) cooking oil
- 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- seasoning blend to taste (1-2 tablespoons jerk, Creole, or fish seasoning per pound of shrimp)
- 2-3 slices bacon, cut into 3-4 pieces
- 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) smoked paprika
- 1-2 teaspoons (2-3g) fresh thyme
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 2 teaspoons (10g) minced garlic
- ½ medium onion, diced
- ½ medium bell pepper, diced (any color)
- ½ teaspoon (1-2g) ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon (3-4g) chicken bouillon (optional)
- salt and white pepper to taste (salt to taste usually runs around ½ teaspoon per pound of cabbage)
Instructions
- Slice or chop cabbage, and set it aside.
- Heat a large skillet with 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Add the shrimp and lightly season with salt and your preferred seasonings. I love jerk, Creole seasoning, or any herbs or spices on hand. Sauté them for 3-5 minutes, and set them aside.
- Turn the heat to medium, and fry the bacon until browned and crispy (3-5 minutes), then set aside. Leave 1-2 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the pan, adding more oil if necessary.
- Add the scotch bonnet pepper, paprika, thyme, green onions, garlic, onions, bell peppers, and allspice. Sauté for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Then add cabbage, chicken bouillon (optional), salt, and white pepper, stirring to incorporate all the ingredients. Let it cook for about 5 minutes or more, depending on preference or how you like your cabbage cooked.
- Adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve cabbage with sautéed shrimp and bacon on top or on the side.
Tips & Notes:
- One dear reader increased the spices, cooked the cabbage longer for more tender results, and mixed the shrimp and bacon in with the cabbage before serving. Thank you for sharing!
- Feel free to increase the shrimp for a hearty main dish.
- A couple of other readers substituted the bell pepper with grated carrot for delicious cabbage.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Loved this recipe
It was amazing! Fast, easy and scrumptious! Great for weight watching!
Made this tonight! St. Patrick’s day and my daughter gave up meat for lent. So I surprised her with this dish in addition to the holiday corned beef and cabbage. It was delicious and she loved it. Thanks!
Awesome ! Thanks for the feedback!
I just absolutely adore you. You have made my life easier and cooking much happier I can’t wait to make it this is my go to site every night thank you love you my beautiful sister
Awww. Thank you so much for the kind words. Happy cooking!
Wow! Imma! You are a master in the kitchen. I can’t stay off your site trying new recipes. This recipe was delicious! It had just the right spices and complimenting flavors. When I went shopping, I picked up a green pepper instead of a red pepper because the recipe didn’t specify early on. I didn’t realize I needed a red one until I was in the middle of adding it to the recipe. The cabbage and shrimp went well together. I judge a good recipe by how much is left…its gone!
Wohooo! Glad it turned out amazing for you, Elle. Thanks for the great feedback.
Hi. This looks amazing. Definitely gonna try it. Just wander what all spice is???
Hello,
It’s a aromatic spice that is used in Caribbean Cooking , readily available at Caribbean, International and some supermarkets, depending on location It’s quite tasty without the spice , so feel free to leave it out.
I love everything you create. My family thanks you!!!
And I thank you! So thrilled!!!
Can I not use the scotch bonnet?
Hi, Erika! Scotch bonnet is optional. You may need not to include it.
Looks soooo delicious! Will definitely try this!!
Can I prepare this meal at the evening and bring it for lunch the next day?
GoodMorning,
I am confused what is White Pepper?
Good morning! It’s a fully mature black pepper that has been soaked and the outer black layer removed. Feel free to sub it with black pepper.
This is just wonderful! It tastes as delicious as it looks and sounds. And healthy, healthy… I am so glad I found your site. There are so many more dishes here just waiting for me to try my hand on.
So glad to have you here Marie!Thank for taking the time to share your thoughts. And do let me know which ones you try out .
Happy Holidays!!!
Made this tonight, and it was absolutely delicious! Will definitely make again!
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
I would like to add carrots and sausages to this recipe.
You sure can. Saute sausage first before adding garlic onions and other spices. Add carrots when you add cabbage.
How much shrimp should be used?
About a pound depending on your preference adjust to suit guests and/or family.
Looks like red bell peppers in the picture, I don’t see red bell peppers listed as an ingredient. I guess I assumed you referred to green bell peppers chopped. Am I missing something? I want to make sure I follow the recipe exact. 🙂
Yes, you guessed right. I used both green and red bell pepper – leftovers. Either one works just fine.
Hello!!
Made this dish for my husband tonight and he had two plates full!! This is my third recipe that I have tried and it was AMAZING!! Thanks again 🙂
AWESOME!!!
This looks simple and fresh! I cant wait to try and make. Thank you Imma!
Do let me know how it works out for you Adrienne. Thanks
I love that you used cabbage. You are right it is under rated. It is nutritious and cheap. This is a recipe I will love.
Agree, Nutritious and cheap Christie
What a great looking meal, I love anything with shrimp!
What a beautiful dish. Lovely for spring time dinner.
I am looking for a cabbage soup to bring to me nieces baptism. I am totally making this!
Oh my goodness, this looks wonderful! So colourful and full of flavour!