Buttery, spicy curry cabbage recipe—Jamaican style! This side dish is creamy, savory, and rich. An easy-to-make, budget-friendly recipe that is healthy and delicious.

A pot filled with curried cabbage Jamaican style next to a plate of rice.

Jamaican curried cabbage is warm and inviting. Hunks of green cabbage are sautéed in coconut oil with carrots, onion, bell pepper, and lots of garlic. Then simmered in coconut milk until the soft cabbage melts in your mouth. Jamaican curry powder is what really makes this dish. It is a spicy mix of ground Scotch Bonnet pepper, allspice, and turmeric and is totally unique in the world of curry powders (more on that later).

If you’ve ever had a Jamaican steamed cabbage recipe this is similar except this one has coconut milk so it’s more of a simmered cabbage than a steamed one.

I fell in love with Jamaican spice mixes when our dear friend Nadja brought me a jar of jerk seasoning from Jamaica one winter when she went home to visit her family. She said this was the one her mom uses, so I knew it must be the real deal. One bite of the jerk chicken made from that paste and I was hooked. I’ve been exploring Jamaican cuisine ever since. The levels of flavor in Jamaican cooking are so layered and complex and this curried cabbage dish is no exception.

I love this cabbage dish in the fall when white cabbage is plentiful and there are lots of cozy roasts and things to serve alongside. It also makes an excellent vegan main dish with steamed brown rice or Jamaican rice.

Why You Should Try This Jamaican Cabbage Recipe

A wood spoon lifting a spoonful of Jamaican curried cabbage out of the pot.

It is super easy recipe! The cooking time is minimal and is ready in three simple steps.
A great recipe for Sunday dinners. Goes with everything and feeds a crowd.
A simple dish for meal prep. Tastes even better the next day!
This cabbage curry is super budget-friendly. One large bowl feeds about 8 people for under $5.

Ingredients

See recipe card for exact amounts.

Coconut oil or olive oil.
Green cabbage or red cabbage, but the color will be a funky purplish-pink if you use red cabbage.
Carrots for sweetness and color.
White onion adds a nice base of flavor and sharpness.
Green bell pepper for a peppery note, substitute red bell pepper if you’d like more sweetness.
Garlic clove lots and lots of garlic cloves. Use less if you’re not garlic-obsessed like I am.
Kosher salt. I always use Morton kosher salt unless otherwise specified.
Black pepper. Please use freshly-ground pepper.
Coconut milk. Full fat, unsweetened, canned coconut milk.
Jamaican curry powder. See below for more details.
Fresh thyme. Thyme is a commonly used herb in Jamaican cooking.
Green onion. For garnish and color.

How To Make This Recipe

step one

Sauté the veggies. Heat coconut oil over medium heat in a large skillet or pot big enough to hold the cabbage. Add the vegetables, salt, and pepper and sauté until they are starting to become tender.

A hand stirring the vegetables with a wood spoon in a black pot.

step two

Simmer. Add coconut milk, thyme, and curry powder. Stir to coat the vegetables in the sauce. Add a cup of water or vegetable broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until vegetables are melting and tender.

Curried cabbage simmering away on the stove.

step three

Serve. Stir in scallions and serve with white rice.

A pan of Jamaican curried cabbage with a spoon sticking out of the pot.

What Is Jamaican Curry Powder?

A bottle of Jamaican curry powder with the lid removed and a measuring spoon sticking out.

Indian-style curry powder or “regular” curry powder that you would find in your local grocery store is not the same as Jamaican curry powder. Jamaican curry powder is made from turmeric, ground scotch bonnet pepper, allspice, and garlic among other spices. You can purchase it as “hot” or “mild”.

I always buy the “hot” curry powder, but it really isn’t that spicy. If you are sensitive to heat, go for the mild or just use less of the hot powder. You can use it wherever you would use curry powder. It’s great in soups, as a dry rub for meats, or when making any type of curry.

Jamaican curry powder is hard to find in most places. I order it from Amazon. Jamaican Choice is my favorite brand.

Jamaican Style Cabbage FAQ’s

A dish of Jamaican style curried cabbage with rice and a spoon sticking out of one side.

Can I freeze leftovers? This dish doesn’t freeze very well but you could store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Is Jamaican curried cabbage spicy? Yes and no. This is a great side dish for cabbage lovers because you can make it as spicy as you’d like. All the heat comes from the Jamaican curry powder which comes in mild or spicy.

Can I use other vegetables instead of cabbage in this recipe? Sure! You can use a different type of cabbage like Napa cabbage or try making this dish with bok choy.

How can I make this recipe vegan? Good news. It is already vegan! And gluten-free, making it a perfect side dish for feeding guests.

What Do You Think Of This Jamaican Dish?

Are you obsessed with Jamaican flavors or what?! Let me know what you think. Leave a comment below and share a photo tagging me on Instagram using @katesbestrecipes so that I can see (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating)! Also, sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter so you never miss a thing.