Jamaican Cabbage and Shrimp

Quick stir-fried cabbage seasoned with aromatic spices and topped with sautéed shrimp. For a delicious side or healthy main for a Caribbean-style meal.

Course Main, Side

Cuisine Caribbean, Jamaican

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 234kcal

Author Imma

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.

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.

Nutrition