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Jamaican Fried Dumplings Recipe

So you love Jamaican fried dumplings and want to learn how to make them? You’re in the right place because you’ll make the perfect dumplings today. You will be surprised how simple and easy fried dumpling is to make. Just three ingredients, or add butter and make it four. 

Jamaican fried dumplings recipe

The origin of Jamaican fried dumplings

Fried dumplings originated in Jamaica, but the person(s) and the exact time this recipe was created are unknown. Many popular Jamaican cuisines are rooted in the country’s diverse history, with influences from West Africa, India and Asia. The fried dumpling seems to be a reminiscence of West African and Asia cooking that has evolved into the dish it is today.

In Jamaican, fried dumplings are eaten at breakfast or as part of lunch. It’s usually served with callaloo, ackee and saltfish, steamed cabbage or scrambled eggs if you want a quick breakfast.

Jamaican fried dumplings ingredients

What are Jamaican Fried Dumplings made of?

Jamaican fried dumplings are made of three simple ingredients, or four if you wish to add butter:

  • Flour: The recipe below uses plain (all-purpose) flour. When making dumplings, you don’t need to sieve the flour.
  • Baking powder: When using plain flour, you must use baking powder to help make the dumplings soft. The dumplings won’t swell without the baking powder, and they will turn out hard.
  • Salt: The salt adds a slightly savoury flavour to the dumplings you know and love.

Butter and sugar are other ingredients that are often used. Butter also helps to soften the dumpling texture. Sugar adds a hint of sweetness to the dumpling, but the amount of sugar you use isn’t has much as you would in the Jamaican festival dumplings. If you want to add butter, see the notes in the recipe card below.

You can do without the baking powder when you use self-raising flour for the Jamaican fried dumplings recipe. If you need help gauging the amount of baking powder to the amount of flour you’re using, then it is better to use self-raising flour.

How To Make Jamaican Fried Dumplings

How to make Jamaican fried dumplings
  1. The dough: Add all the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine. Then you gradually add water and knead into a soft dough. Gradually adding the water will prevent you from adding too much to the mixture. You want a soft dough but not a wet dough.
  2. The oil: It’s best to add the oil to a deep pot. Use enough oil to cover or almost over the dumplings when frying. Make sure the oil is hot before adding the dumplings.
  3. The dumplings: Keep the heat low to medium because you don’t want the dumplings to brown before the inside cooks. The perfect dumpling is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
What are dumplings usually made of?

Dumpling varieties

The three main ingredients for fired dumplings are flour, baking powder and salt. You will often see sugar and butter added to the recipe and, more recently, plant-based milk. All three ingredients add something different to the flavour and texture.
Fried dumplings’ shapes vary too. You can make the fried dumplings round, long, flat, twirly and whatever shape you like.

What to eat with Jamaica fried dumplings

The great thing about fried dumplings is that they go with almost anything at any time of the day. The most popular dishes to serve fried dumpling with are callalooackee or cabbage. I love fried dumpling with scrambled egg or eating it alone.

fried dumplings caribbean
fried dumplings Jamaica

Jamaican fried dumplings recipe

Make Jamaican fried dumplings with three ingredients you already have in your cupboard.
4.48 from 68 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Jamaican
Keyword: jamaican fried dumpling
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 Dumplings
Calories: 658kcal
Author: Lesa

Ingredients 

  • 358 g (2.86 cups) Plain flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • ¾ tsp Salt I use pink himalayan salt
  • 170 ml (0.72 cups) Water
  • 473 ml (2 cups) Oil

Instructions

  • Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
  • Gradually add water to the dry ingredients, and knead until you make a soft dough.
  • Divide the dough into equal small pieces, about 7 to 8 pieces. Divide the dough into equal small pieces, about 7 to 8 pieces. Roll each piece between the palms of your hands in a circular motion to form a round ball.
  • In a frying pan, pour the cooking oil and put it to heat on a medium fire.
  • Place the round dough into the heated oil. Turn the heat down to medium-low and let to dough fry on all sides.
  • Fry until the dumplings are golden brown on all sides and the flour inside is fully cooked.

Notes

  • You may need more or less water than I use in the above recipe. Slowly stir the water into the flour until you make a soft dough. The dough should not be sticky.
  • Butter gives the dumplings a softer texture. This recipe takes 30g of room-temperature butter if you wish to use it.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Jamaican fried dumplings recipe
Serving Size
 
69 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
658
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
56
g
86
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
 
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
16
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
35
g
Sodium
 
346
mg
15
%
Potassium
 
48
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
34
g
11
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
0.1
g
0
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Calcium
 
37
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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34 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    It’s been 10 years since I tried making dumplings and I followed this recipe and they came out perfectly!! Thank you!

    I had to half each ball in the end and ended up with 4 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    I have never made these before, but eaten lots and they turned out perfect, thanks for the recipe.

  3. Jamaican Foods and Recipes

    You are welcome Tracy, that’s very good to hear.

  4. Barrington

    5 stars
    I use milk instead of water

  5. 5 stars
    The fluffiest, soft dumplings I have ever made, I added a tablespoon of margarine to the mix. Thank you for a great recipe!

  6. Can u use bumpling min out of a packet

  7. Hi,

    Can you explain why my dumplings are hard once removed from the pan

  8. Fiona Morgan

    How long does the dough take ? Is it just bound together with a couple of mixes or am I really working it?

  9. 5 stars
    Turned out awesome!

  10. 5 stars
    Really good recipe ❤️

  11. Hi why are my dumpling oily on the inside please? Like you can see the oil a little

  12. 5 stars
    Yum, yum, yum! Festival & dumplings turned out lovely! Thank you.

  13. 5 stars
    my first time cooking these and they came out great thanks to your recipe! can’t wait to cook them again❤️

  14. Wisdom Stanley

    5 stars
    Thank you for this for these receipts I have just found your page I am cooking fried dumplings to go with jerk pork rice and peas for the first time wish me luck have a great day my name is Wisdom by the way

  15. Wisdom Stanley

    5 stars
    Great recipe and so easy to follow

  16. How many grams of flour equals to a cup?

  17. 5 stars
    So easy and simple, thanks for the efforts of also putting how much more of the ingredients are required if wanting to increase the amount made perfect for mums who need to just get on with

  18. Can I put in deep fat fryer and what temp should I put it on tried a few times in pan and always end up with the middle not cooked

  19. 5 stars
    My colleague made these I tried it for the first time yesterday and just had to make my own they turned out great thankyou so much !!

  20. Shawna Peters-Francis

    5 stars
    This recipe is delicious. I made this with my 5 year old Son. We added 1/4 cup cornmeal and 1 tsp of sugar to the recipe. Just perfect!!

  21. 5 stars
    Amazing dumpling,crispy on outside but nice and fluffy on the inside,delicious 😘

  22. Patrica Forbes

    Can i cook dumplings in an air fryer x

  23. 5 stars
    The most easy dumpling I have every made, the second batch I added 2 teaspoons of Mirin and they were great. I serve dumplings with salt fish, ackee and plantain. Thank you

  24. 5 stars
    This recipe works perfectly

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