You don't have to travel across the ocean to get the full Jamaican experience — you can get island flavor in your own kitchen. From jerk chicken to oxtail stew, these are some of our favorite ways to get a taste of the Caribbean.

Jerked Pulled Pork Wraps with Mango and Banana Relish

Jerked Pulled Pork Wraps with Mango and Banana Relish by Closet Cooking Seasonal fruit and juicy pulled pork in this Jamaican jerk dish results in an irresistible flavor explosion. Put your slow cooker to work on the pork, then load a warm tortilla with the meat and top it with the fruity relish for a meal you'll want to serve again and again.

Jerk Chicken

Jerk Chicken by Simply Recipes
Made with Scotch bonnet chili peppers (a close cousin to habanero peppers) and allspice, this is a classic Jamaican jerk chicken recipe. If it's too spicy, serve it with black beans and rice to temper the heat. Pro tip: Use gloves when handling these peppers — they're so spicy, they'll "burn" your hands! You should also avoid touching your eyes after handling them.

Pan Fried Plantains with Sea Salt

Pan Fried Plantains with Sea Salt by The Kitchenista Diaries
Some cooks deep fry plantains, but you can still get a delicious flavor without the fat and calories of deep-frying. This recipe calls for pan-frying plantains in coconut or avocado oil along with a bit of butter or ghee and then sprinkled with a pinch of sea salt to balance out the sweetness and enhance its natural flavors.

Jamaican Rice and Peas

Jamaican Rice and Peas by Simply Recipes
This dish is a staple in Jamaica. It's cooked with coconut milk and kidney beans, resulting in a unique flavor. It does call for a Scotch bonnet, but it's added whole so that only a little bit of spice is released into the rice. It also gets flavor from sauteed onions, garlic, and fresh ginger.

Jamaican Beef Dumplings

Jamaican Beef Dumplings by Epicurious
These wontons are fairly easy to make — you just brown the meat with curry powder, scallions, onions, and thyme for classic Jamaican flavor. The trickiest part is assembling the wontons, but even that's pretty straightforward; you just pile on the filling and fold the wrappers over to seal in the meat before pan-frying them. They make an excellent appetizer or snack.

Jamaican Pumpkin Soup

Jamaican Pumpkin Soup by Healthier Steps
If you're looking for a vegetarian or vegan soup, this is a hearty soup with all the traditional Jamaican flavors. It calls for Jamaican pumpkin or calabaza, which is common in the Caribbean, but you can use butternut squash or acorn squash instead. Putting it together only requires a little bit of sauteing, a lot of simmering, and a moderate amount of pureeing, so even the novice cook can execute this soup.

Jamaican Oxtail Stew

Jamaican Oxtail Stew by Immaculate Bites
This braised oxtail calls for all the Jamaican spice favorites of allspice, garlic, thyme, onions, and, of course, Scotch bonnet peppers. Slow cooked with butter beans, it makes a warm and filling winter dinner when you'd rather be in the Caribbean.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Coconut Rice and Beans

Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Coconut Rice and Beans by Wishful Chef
This jerk chicken revolves around allspice and chili peppers, giving it a bit of kick without being overwhelming. This recipe is easy to prepare and the chicken pairs well with coconut rice to balance out the heat of the spicy chicken. The recipe calls for black beans, but you can use pinto beans if you prefer.

Jamaican Jerk Burgers

Jamaican Jerk Burgers by Savory Spice Shop
It only takes six ingredients and 25 minutes to create these tasty Caribbean-inspired burgers. The soy sauce and orange juice give it a sweet and sour flavor. If you like, top the burger with fresh avocado slices or tomato. Sandwich it in a Hawaiian roll or the bread of your choice — or slice the burger in half and wrap it in lettuce leaves for a lighter option.

Jamaican Mango Salsa

Jamaican Mango Salsa by Team Jamaica
The flavors of fresh mangos, bell peppers, corn, and Scotch bonnet peppers meld together with lemon juice and salt for salsa with a traditional Jamaican kick. Once the ingredients are combined, let the salsa rest for 10 minutes so the flavors can blend. Serve with fresh tortilla chips or pita chips.

Keep Cooking

If these recipes spark an interest in Jamaican cooking, there are thousands more to discover on Yummly!