Jamaican Fried Dumplings Recipe (2024)

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Written by Lesa Updated on May 13, 2023 in Side Dish

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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.

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

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

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.
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.
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.

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 arecallaloo,ackeeorcabbage. I love fried dumpling with scrambled egg or eating it alone.

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 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes 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

Saturated Fat

Trans Fat

0.2

Polyunsaturated Fat

Monounsaturated Fat

Sodium

346

Potassium

34 Comments

Ashleigh
May 26, 2020 at 3:29 pm ·Reply

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 🙂
- Jamaican Foods and Recipes
  June 9, 2020 at 9:30 pm ·Reply
  
  You are welcome and thank for sharing.
- Rebecca
  February 9, 2022 at 9:30 pm ·Reply
  
  I’ve been using this recipe for a few years now and they turn out perfectly every single time! Thank you for a great recipe!
  - Denise
    December 15, 2023 at 9:54 pm ·Reply
    
    My partner eats wheat free and gluten free, How can I adjust this for him. Would greatly appreciate the help.
Tracy
July 3, 2020 at 5:48 pm ·Reply

I have never made these before, but eaten lots and they turned out perfect, thanks for the recipe.
- Donnovan
  January 20, 2021 at 10:04 pm ·Reply
  
  They came out perfect!
  Thank you for creating this website and for sharing your recipe.
See Also
10 easy soup recipes Michelin-starred chefs love making in the winter

Jamaican Foods and Recipes
July 6, 2020 at 12:54 pm ·Reply

You are welcome Tracy, that’s very good to hear.
Barrington
July 22, 2020 at 1:42 pm ·Reply

I use milk instead of water
Rebecca
August 18, 2020 at 12:08 am ·Reply

The fluffiest, soft dumplings I have ever made, I added a tablespoon of margarine to the mix. Thank you for a great recipe!
- Lesa
  August 18, 2020 at 9:13 pm ·Reply
  
  Margarine is great too.
Simon
December 21, 2020 at 2:22 pm ·Reply

Can u use bumpling min out of a packet
James
January 26, 2021 at 3:14 pm ·Reply

Hi,
Can you explain why my dumplings are hard once removed from the pan
- Sarah
  June 6, 2021 at 1:09 pm ·Reply
  
  Sounds like you may have overworked the dough
Fiona Morgan
November 1, 2021 at 3:45 pm ·Reply

How long does the dough take ? Is it just bound together with a couple of mixes or am I really working it?
Megan
December 20, 2021 at 6:24 am ·Reply

Turned out awesome!
Kyla
January 18, 2022 at 7:43 pm ·Reply

Really good recipe ❤️
Dani
January 26, 2022 at 8:30 am ·Reply

Hi why are my dumpling oily on the inside please? Like you can see the oil a little
- Lesa
  January 29, 2022 at 4:35 pm ·Reply
  
  The dough was too soft or the oil wasn’t hot enough before you add the dumpling
Si
April 13, 2022 at 5:05 pm ·Reply

Yum, yum, yum! Festival & dumplings turned out lovely! Thank you.
Stevie
August 25, 2022 at 7:26 pm ·Reply

my first time cooking these and they came out great thanks to your recipe! can’t wait to cook them again❤️
- Lesa
  August 26, 2022 at 7:32 pm ·Reply
  
  Hi Stevie, I’m please to hear that you have don’t well on your first try.
Wisdom Stanley
September 18, 2022 at 1:41 pm ·Reply

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
Wisdom Stanley
September 18, 2022 at 1:42 pm ·Reply

Great recipe and so easy to follow
István
November 15, 2022 at 4:32 pm ·Reply

How many grams of flour equals to a cup?
- Mina
  January 14, 2023 at 11:26 am ·Reply
  
  Around 250 grams is 2 cups
Mina
January 14, 2023 at 11:25 am ·Reply

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
Chloe
January 22, 2023 at 9:11 pm ·Reply

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
Shakira
January 23, 2023 at 11:13 am ·Reply

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 !!
Shawna Peters-Francis
February 5, 2023 at 4:01 pm ·Reply

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!!
Michelle
March 24, 2023 at 1:38 am ·Reply

Amazing dumpling,crispy on outside but nice and fluffy on the inside,delicious 😘
Patrica Forbes
May 12, 2023 at 1:38 pm ·Reply

Can i cook dumplings in an air fryer x
Maureen
July 8, 2023 at 12:13 pm ·Reply

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
- Lesa
  July 8, 2023 at 6:58 pm ·Reply
  
  Hey Maureen, thanks for trying the recipe and commenting. Everything sounds so good!
Tay
January 27, 2024 at 5:39 pm ·Reply

This recipe works perfectly

FAQs

What are Caribbean dumplings made of? ›

The dumplings are typically made of all-purpose flour, though sometimes cornmeal is added. Shaping them is a fun and quick project that kids can take part in too. Spinners are most often cooked in soups and stews, including this Caribbean beef soup recipe. You can also boil and eat them as a side dish.

Show Me More ›

What is the secret to perfect dumplings? ›

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

Learn More ›

What are the 3 components of dumplings? ›

What are dumplings made of? The dumpling dough is made of three main ingredients: flour, water and salt.

Find Out More ›

Are fried dumplings unhealthy? ›

Steamed dumplings are the best option in terms of fat content, with pan fried the next best. “If they do fry it -- like gyoza which are usually lightly fried -- then it puts the fat content up a little,” Austin said. “You want to avoid ones that have been completely deep fried.”

Get More Info ›

Why do Jamaicans eat dumplings? ›

Fried dumplings have their origins in Jamaican colonization and slavery, where workers would pack fried biscuits to take with them on long journeys. Sometimes called “journey cake” or “Johnny Cake”, today's islanders often enjoy fried dumplings with other breakfast dishes like ackee and saltfish, callaloo, or kidney.

Learn More ›

What is the origin of fried dumplings in Jamaica? ›

History of Fry Dumplings

Fry dumplings is rooted from Jamaica colonization. Workers would take these fulfilling dumplings on long trips, hence the name johnny cakes or Journey Cakes.

What flour is best for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

Find Out More ›

Do you cook dumplings with lid on or lid off? ›

Once your water is boiling, let your dumplings cook in the steam for about ten minutes. Don't remove the lid as letting the steam escape will disrupt the cooking process and result in undercooked dumplings, so keep that lid on!

Get More Info ›

Why do my dumplings taste like flour? ›

If your dumplings taste like flour, that means the flour hasn't been cooked thoroughly. David Mowbray is right -- You need a new recipe! Do I add flour even if my batter tastes like flour? If there's a recipe, which there probably is..

See Details ›

Do you fry dumplings in oil or butter? ›

The panfrying method starts with lightly frying dumplings in a generous splash of neutral oil, like canola or vegetable, then finishes the cooking process by creating intense steam from pouring liquid into the hot pan. Start by adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of neutral oil to a nonstick pan over medium-high heat.

Learn More ›

Why are my fried dumplings hard? ›

Using too much flour: If you use too much flour in your dumpling dough, the dumplings will be dense and tough. Be sure to measure the flour carefully and follow the recipe closely. Using the wrong type of flour: Different types of flour have different protein levels, which can affect the texture of the dumplings.

How long do you pan fry dumplings for? ›

Cook the dumplings

Add dumplings to an oiled skillet, pleated side up. Pour 1/2 cup water into pan; cover and cook until bottoms are crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.

Tell Me More ›

What are dumplings traditionally made of? ›

Dumplings are most commonly formed from flour or meal bound with egg and then simmered in water or gravy stock until they take on a light cakey texture. Many recipes call for herbs, onions, grated cheese, or chopped meat to be rolled into the dough before cooking.

See Details ›

What are original dumplings made of? ›

The Chinese had figured out how to grind flour about 300 years earlier, which led to noodles and, eventually, dumplings. Some say that the first dumplings were made with lamb and pepper, but since then, they have adapted. Most dumplings now have a pork mixture as their filling.

Know More ›

Jamaican Fried Dumplings Recipe (2024)

The origin of Jamaican fried dumplings

Jamaican fried dumplings ingredients

How To Make Jamaican Fried Dumplings

Dumpling varieties

What to eat with Jamaica fried dumplings

Jamaican fried dumplings recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

34 Comments

Leave a Comment

FAQs

What are Caribbean dumplings made of? ›

Why are my fried dumplings hard? ›