Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe

This mouth-watering Jamaican Curry Shrimp is bright, fresh and delicious! It includes large fresh shrimps, curry powder, capsicum peppers, onions, coconut milk and thyme. Serve it with white rice, plantain or coleslaw and make it in 30 minutes.

About this Recipe

I love serving this restaurant-quality Jamaican coconut curry shrimp for dinner and special occasions. It is creamy, rich in flavor and surprisingly easy to put together. All you need is a few easy-to-find ingredients and you’ll be enjoying this curry in no time.

Another thing I love about making this curry at home is that it can be customized to suit your taste. For example, add two scotch bonnets if you like spicy curries; if you want milder heat, use half. I also like to be generous with the number of shrimp I add to the curry as it is the best part! The capsicum peppers add beautiful color and fresh sweet colors to the curry so try not to skip them if you can.

Traditionally, Jamaican shrimp curry can be served with white rice, rice and peas, roti, plantain, coleslaw or veggies. However, feel free to serve it with whatever you please. It is guaranteed to disappear in seconds and is truly a seafood lover’s dream!

Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe Ingredients

• Shrimp: The fresher, the better for this recipe. I like to use good-quality raw shrimp when cooking. They come in the shell, so I remove the head and devein the shrimp before seasoning. Alternatively, you can buy cleaned shrimp or frozen shrimp instead. If you use frozen shrimp, allow them to thaw before seasoning. If you are short on time, you can soak the shrimp in warm water, which will help them thaw faster.
• Curry powder: It is important to use good quality Jamaican curry seasoning to make this curry shrimp Jamaican style. Curry powder gives this dish its wonderful darkish-yellow color.
• Salt to taste: To enhance the flavors in the curry and shrimp.
• Pepper to taste: My pepper of choice for this recipe is cayenne pepper but feel free to use paprika or black pepper.
• Green sauce: This sauce is a staple in most Caribbean households and is used to season many dishes. It typically includes basil, parsley, celery, garlic, onion, habanero peppers and more. However, don’t worry if you don’t have any. The curry will still taste great.
• Onion chopped: Use white onions for this recipe to add savory flavor.
• Garlic cloves: Fresh garlic cloves work best in this recipe. Chop them thinly or grate them.
• Scotch bonnet: Add red scotch bonnets to this curry for some extra heat. Alter the heat level depending on your preference level.
• Capsicum peppers: For a hint of sweetness add red, green and yellow capsicum peppers to the curry.
• Coconut milk: This is the base of the curry, giving it a rich and deliciously creamy flavor.
• Thyme: Traditionally, fresh sprigs of thyme are used but if you don’t have any then feel free to use dried thyme instead.
• Oil: Use vegetable or sunflower oil to cook the curry.

How to Make Jamaican Curry Shrimp

1.First, the shrimp needs to be prepared. Clean, devein shrimps and add them to a medium-sized bowl. Next, season the shrimps with 2 tbsp of curry powder, green sauce, salt to taste and pepper to taste. Rub the seasoning into the shrimps and refrigerate while you start the curry.

Tip: If you are using frozen shrimps then allow them to thaw before seasoning.

2. Next, prepare the curry. Heat a splash of oil in a saucepan. Then add onions, garlic and scotch bonnet. Cook and stir ingredients for a few minutes.

3. Add capsicum peppers to the saucepan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add 2 tbsp of curry powder and stir while cooking on medium heat for 1 minute.

4. Pour coconut milk into the saucepan, add thyme, salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil then cook on low\medium heat for 5-7 minutes.

5. Remove the shrimps from the refrigerator and add the seasoned shrimps to the saucepan and stir well. Cook shrimps on each side for about 5-7 minutes or until done.

6. Then, leave the curry to cook on low heat for 5-7 more minutes and stir from time to time until the sauce thickens.

7. Once the Jamaican Shrimp Curry with Coconut Milk is done add fresh chilies and roughly chopped parsley. Serve curry with white rice, rice and peas, plantain or roti.

Tips and Tricks

• Shrimp: Be sure to, remove the shell, head and devein the shrimps before seasoning. If not the shrimp will have a bitter taste.
• Curry powder: When adding the curry to the saucepan, cook it on medium heat for at least 1 minute. This ensures that the curry powder is cooked and not raw.
• Tasting: Taste the curry while cooking and adjust the seasoning if necessary. For example, you may need to add more salt.
• Low heat: Once the shrimps have been added cook them on low heat to thicken the sauce and stir it from time to time.
• Consistency: If you prefer thicker curry, mix 1 tbsp of cornflour and 1 tbsp of water and pour it into the curry before adding the shrimp and stirring well. This will thicken the sauce.

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Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe

Jen Sim

This Jamaican Curry Shrimp is bright, fresh and delicious! It includes large fresh shrimps, curry powder, capsicum peppers, onions, coconut milk and thyme. It pairs perfectly with white rice and plantain. Make it in 30 minutes and watch it disappear in seconds!

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Jamaican

Keyword: Coconut curry, Jamaican curry, Shrimp curry

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Author: Jen Sim

Equipment

• ▢
  Saucepan
• ▢
  Large Bowl

Ingredients

• ▢ 650 g of large shrimp
• ▢ 4 tbsp of Jamaican curry powder
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ Pepper to taste
• ▢ 1 tbsp of green sauce
• ▢ 1 onion chopped
• ▢ 1 scotch bonnet
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves
• ▢ 1 medium red capsicum pepper
• ▢ 1 medium yellow capsicum pepper
• ▢ 1 medium green capsicum pepper
• ▢ 1 can of coconut milk
• ▢ ¼ tsp thyme or 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• ▢ A splash of oil

Instructions

• Add cleaned and deveined shrimp to a medium-sized bowl and season with 2 tbsp of curry powder, green sauce, salt to taste and pepper to taste. Rub the seasoning into the shrimp and leave it in the refridgerator for later.
• Heat a splash of oil in a saucepan. Add onions, garlic and scotch bonnet and cook for a few minutes.
• Next, add capsicum peppers and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add 2 tbsp of curry powder and stir while cooking on a medium heat for 1 minute.
• Pour coconut milk into the saucepan, add thyme, salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil then cook on lowmedium heat for 5-7 minutes.
• Add the seasoned shrimp to the saucepan and stir well. Cook shrimps on each side for about 5-7 minutes or until done. Then, leave the curry to cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Once the curry is done add fresh chilies and roughly chopped parsley. Serve curry with white rice and plantain.

Notes

Shrimp: Use fresh shrimp, shop-bought shrimp or frozen shrimp for this recipe. If you are using frozen shrimps then make sure you allow them to thaw before seasoning. If you are short on time then you can soak the shrimps in warm water and this will help them to thaw faster.

Scotch bonnet: Add red scotch bonnets to this curry for some extra heat. Alter the heat level depending on your preference level.

Consistency: If you prefer curry with a thicker consistency then mix together 1 tbsp of cornflour and 1 tbsp of water and pour it into the curry before adding the shrimp and stir well. This will thicken the sauce.

Low heat: Once the shrimps have been added cook them on a low heat to thicken the sauce and stir it from time to time.

Green sauce: Includes basil, parsley, celery, garlic, onion, habanero peppers and more. However, you can skip it if you don’t have any to hand.