Jamaican Oxtails

This hearty Jamaican Oxtails recipe is slowly stewed to perfection with a delicious blend of herbs. It's an absolutely wonderful stew with tender braised beef oxtail, sautéed vegetables, and butter beans! Enjoy the Jamaican oxtail as a stew on its own, or served over a bed of steamed white rice!

Jamaican Oxtails Recipe

This amazingly rich and flavorful beef oxtail recipe is my best recreation from visiting a Sandals resort in Jamaica on vacation! I absolutely loved the flavors and couldn't pry every detail from the chef, but have managed to fill in details quite deliciously!

Since then, my family enjoys this very fragrant dish wholeheartedly whenever it is made! I have to say that the anticipation, while it is cooking, is, by all appearances (judging from my daughter) practically irresistible!

My daughter Lauren loves these incredibly easy-to-make Jamaican oxtails so much so, that my husband and I will opt to let her enjoy the lion's share of dinner!

🥘 Ingredients

• 2 ½ lb Beef Oxtails (rinsed, dried, and trimmed of excess fat)
• 2 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
• 3 cups Beef Broth
• 2 medium Carrots (sliced)
• 2 ribs Celery (sliced)
• 1 medium Yellow Onion (chopped)
• Jalapeno Pepper (chopped or scotch bonnet)
• 1 tablespoon Garlic (minced)
• 1 bunch Thyme
• Bay Leaf
• x1 16 oz can Butter Beans (drained and rinsed)
• Seasoning/Marinade 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon salt, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon browning sauce, ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*

🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions

Season & Prep The Oxtails

1. Rinse the oxtail and pat them dry with a paper towel, then place them into a medium-size mixing bowl.
2. Add all of the Jamaican oxtail seasoning ingredients: Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, pepper, paprika, browning sauce, and ground cayenne pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning over the oxtails, then toss with your hands or a wooden spoon to coat them thoroughly. (See tips for how long to marinate.)

Brown The oxtails

1. To cook your oxtail, heat a large pan or Dutch oven to high heat with the vegetable oil. Once the oil is shimmering and just about to smoke, add the oxtail cuts and sear all sides until golden browned in color. This will take about 3 minutes.

Combine And Simmer

1. Transfer the browned oxtail to a plate and set it aside. Reduce heat to medium-high and add the vegetables: carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. Sauté until tender and fragrant, about 3 - 4 minutes. Once the vegetables are softened slightly, add the beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf.
2. Bring the ingredients to a slow rolling boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Cook at a simmer for about 3 hours, or until the meat is tender and can be pulled from the bone with a fork.
3. Once the oxtail is tender, remove the lid and return the heat to medium-high. Add the rinsed butter beans and simmer the oxtail stew for an additional 5 - 10 minutes to reduce the liquid and thicken it slightly. *Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning.
4. Stir frequently during this last simmer, and remove from heat when done. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

This delicious Jamaican oxtails dish can be served as a stew, or with the typical sides like rice and peas. You could also go completely tropical and serve it up with some baked plantains!! If you love Jamaican food why not try my brown stew chicken!

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

• I usually begin by going against all recommendations and rinsing the oxtails off after removing them from their packaging. I don't usually rinse meats, as I try to avoid contaminating kitchen areas but these are an exception due to bone shards sometimes found on the meat!
• The oxtails can be covered with plastic cling film wrap and allowed to marinate between 4 hours and overnight if you would like a more flavorful Jamaican oxtail! Remember to allow the refrigerated oxtail to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before moving on to cooking it when ready.

🇯🇲 Other Jamaican Recipes

• Jamaican Recipes
• Brown Stew Chicken
• Black Cake
• Rum Cake
• Rum Punch

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