Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe

Name: Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 lb jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails removed); 2.5 Tablespoons Jamaican curry powder (separated); 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion (sliced); 1 medium red bell pepper (sliced); 1 medium green bell pepper (sliced); 1 scotch bonnet pepper (seeds removed and sliced (optional)); 3 cloves garlic (chopped); 13.5 oz can of unsweetened coconut milk; ½ Tablespoon ketchup; 4 sprigs of thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme; Salt and pepper

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This Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe features Jamaican curry powder, large succulent shrimp, bell peppers, and coconut milk. A quick and easy curry recipe that’s perfect any day of the week.

curry shrimp in the pan it was cooked in with rice on the side

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If you traveled to Jamaica or are familiar with the culture, you know curry is quite popular on the island. Curry chicken, curry goat, and curry shrimp are all popular dishes in Jamaica.

For this curry recipe, I add coconut milk. Coconut milk is not standard in curry chicken or curry goat, but it is essential in curry shrimp. Coconut milk adds a creamy richness that perfectly complements the shrimp's delicate flavor.

The added peppers make this dish colorful and vibrant, and they are the perfect accompaniment to the shrimp and curry.

This quick and easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, satisfying your craving for island flavor in no time.

Ingredients Needed for this Curry Shrimp Recipe

Shrimp - 1 pound of thawed large shrimp, peeled, cleaned, and deveined. This is the dish's main ingredient and adds a juicy and substantial texture that pairs well with the flavorful curry sauce. If using frozen shrimp, defrost it first.
Spices and Herbs - Curry powder, all-purpose seasoning, thyme, salt, and pepper
Vegetables - yellow onion, red and green bell peppers, scotch bonnet pepper for a little spice. If you can’t find scotch bonnets, habaneros or jalapeños are good substitutes.
Liquids - unsweetened coconut milk from a can and ketchup.
Oil - for sautéing the vegetables and shrimp.

How to make Jamaican Curry Shrimp

First, gather your ingredients.

Season shrimp with 1 Tablespoon of curry powder and all-purpose seasoning and set aside for about 10 minutes. Prepare the other ingredients, like chopping your onions, peppers, and garlic.

raw shrimp seasoned with curry powder in white bowl

Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced yellow onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, scotch bonnet pepper (if using), and chopped garlic.

Stir for 5 minutes until the peppers are slightly softened.

Add remaining curry powder and stir for an additional minute.

cooked peppers and onions with curry powder added

Add coconut milk, seasoned shrimp, ketchup, and thyme to cover the shrimp in the sauce.

coconut milk and shrimp in skillet cooking

Let the sauce simmer and cook the shrimp over medium heat, flipping halfway, until fully cooked on both sides. Stir occasionally. This should take about 5-6 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste.

finished jamaican curry shrimp in skillet

Serve with rice, and enjoy.

jamaican curry shrimp with rice on white plate

How to store

Make ahead – Undoubtedly, curry shrimp is an excellent choice for a make-ahead dish. As time passes, the flavors meld more profoundly, offering an even more intense and delightful taste experience

To refrigerate – Store leftover curry in an airtight container for 3 days.

To freeze: Cool the curry before freezing. Then, place it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator, and once thawed, heat it gently in a pot over the stove.

Variations

Make this curry your own with some of the following swaps:

Protein swap - use chicken, a firm fish (like cod), or tofu in place of the shrimp.
Add additional vegetables, like spinach or cauliflower, for a fun way to use leftover vegetables.
Top the curry with fresh herbs, like cilantro, for an extra pop of flavor and color.

Notes on Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe

This curry creates a rich and delicious sauce. I use a whole can of full fat coconut milk. If you like your sauce a little thinner, sub half of the coconut milk with water.
I use Blue Mountain Jamaican curry powder for this recipe or my homemade curry powder recipe.
Make sure to keep the heat on medium to avoid scorching the sauce. If your sauce begins to scorch, turn your heat down to medium-low.
This dish is delicious served over white or brown rice. Coleslaw served on the side is also a great idea.
If you're not a fan of spice, omit the scotch bonnet pepper.

FAQ

Can I use a different type of shrimp?

Yes, you can use any type of shrimp based on your preference or availability. I recommend using jumbo shrimp because they are meatier and absorb the flavors of the curry well.

Can I substitute another milk for the coconut milk?

Yes, coconut milk lends a distinctive rich and creamy texture to Caribbean dishes. Nonetheless, heavy cream or yogurt can serve as suitable replacements if needed.

Is it shrimp curry or curry shrimp?

The naming can depend on regional vernacular and personal preference. In many Western countries, it is commonly referred to as "shrimp curry." In Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, it is traditionally referred to as "curry shrimp."

Looking for more Jamaican recipes? Try these out

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4.79 from 37 votes

Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe

This Jamaican Curry Shrimp Recipe is made with Jamaican curry powder, large succulent shrimp, bell peppers, and coconut milk. It’s a quick and easy curry recipe that’s perfect any day of the week.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Caribbean

Keyword jamaican coconut curry shrimp, jamaican curry shrimp

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings people

Calories 319kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

1 lb jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined, tails removed
2.5 Tablespoons Jamaican curry powder separated
1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion sliced
1 medium red bell pepper sliced
1 medium green bell pepper sliced
1 scotch bonnet pepper seeds removed and sliced (optional)
3 cloves garlic chopped
13.5 oz can of unsweetened coconut milk
½ Tablespoon ketchup
4 sprigs of thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Season shrimp with 1 Tablespoon of curry powder and all-purpose seasoning and set aside for about 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients like chopping your onions, peppers, and garlic.
Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced yellow onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, scotch bonnet pepper, if using, and chopped garlic and stir for 5 minutes, until peppers are slightly softened.
Add 1.5 Tablespoons of curry powder to the skillet and stir for an additional minute.
Then add coconut milk, seasoned shrimp, ketchup, and thyme, making sure the shrimp is covered in the sauce.
Allow the sauce to come to a simmer and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally and flipping the shrimp halfway, until the shrimp is fully cooked on both sides. This should take about 5-6 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

This curry creates a rich and delicious sauce because I use a whole can of coconut milk. If you like your sauce a little thinner, sub half of the coconut milk with water.
I use Blue Mountain Jamaican curry powder for this recipe.
Make sure to keep the heat on medium to avoid scorching the sauce. If your sauce begins to scorch, turn your heat down to medium-low.
This dish is delicious served over white rice.
If you're not a fan of spice, omit the scotch bonnet pepper.

Nutrition

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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

This post was originally published on September 8, 2021. It has been updated with additional helpful information.