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Cow Foot Stew

A traditional Jamaican dish — Cow Foot Stew is the ultimate slow-food triumph: cow foot simmered for hours until it turns silky and gelatinous, swimming in a glossy brown gravy with butter beans.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 240 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Cow Foot Stew - Jamaïcain recipe

A traditional Jamaican dish — Cow Foot Stew is the ultimate slow-food triumph: cow foot simmered for hours until it turns silky and gelatinous, swimming in a glossy brown gravy with butter beans. Its collagen-rich texture is the whole point — the gravy thickens naturally into something almost luxurious. Served over rice and peas, it is a dish Jamaicans love fiercely.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Wash the cow foot well and pat dry, then season with salt.
  2. Heat the oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the cow foot in batches until deeply colored.
  3. Stir in the browning sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, onion, garlic, scallions, thyme and pimento, and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Add the water and the whole scotch bonnet, cover and simmer gently for 2½ to 3 hours, until the meat is very tender and the broth is thick and sticky.
  5. Add the soaked butter beans and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes more, until they are soft, adding water if the stew gets too thick.
  6. Remove the scotch bonnet, adjust the salt and serve hot over rice and peas.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Cow foot needs real time — 3 hours minimum — but it is nearly impossible to overcook. Ask the butcher to chop the foot into manageable pieces; it is very tough to cut at home.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook240 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →