Home / Dinner / Steamed Fish Jamaïcain

Steamed Fish Jamaïcain

Name: Steamed Fish Jamaïcain
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 whole snapper or parrot fish (about 2 lb / 900 g), scaled and gutted; 1 lime, halved; 8 okra, whole or halved; 2 tomatoes, sliced; 1 onion, sliced into rings; 3 scallions, chopped; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 3 garlic cloves, crushed; 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece fresh ginger, sliced; 1 scotch bonnet pepper, whole or sliced; 1 carrot, julienned; ½ tsp salt; 2 tbsp butter; ½ cup (120 ml) water

A traditional Jamaican dish — Steamed Fish is the island’s lightest way with fresh catch, gently cooked in its own juices with okra, tomatoes and a shower of thyme.

⏱ 20 minPrep time

🔥 25 minCook time

🍽 4Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet

A traditional Jamaican dish — Steamed Fish is the island’s lightest way with fresh catch, gently cooked in its own juices with okra, tomatoes and a shower of thyme. Unlike fried fish, steaming keeps the flesh silky and lets the clean flavor of snapper or parrot fish shine. It is a Friday favorite, when fish replaces meat across the island.

Jamaican recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Rub the fish inside and out with the lime and salt, rinse, then score the skin on both sides.
Layer the onion, carrot, tomato, okra, scallions, thyme, garlic and ginger in a wide pot with a tight-fitting lid.
Set the fish on top of the vegetables, tuck in the scotch bonnet and pour in the water.
Cover and steam over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily, adding a splash of water if the pot dries out.
Dot the fish with butter, spoon the vegetable broth over the top, and serve hot with bammy, fried dumplings or rice.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Steam gently — a hard boil breaks the fish apart. The okra thickens the broth into a light, silky sauce, so do not skip it.

Recipe details

Prep20 min

Cook25 min

Servings4

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

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 →

Steamed Fish Jamaïcain

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Log In

Get free recipes every week

Steamed Fish Jamaïcain

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Join the conversation

Keep browsingYou might also like

Cabbage Rolls Hongrois

Tarta de Santiago

Naiboa

Log In