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Jamaican oxtail stew garnished with parsley
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Jamaican oxtails - Soft, Juicy, and Mouthwatering Cowtails!

Jamaican oxtail is a favorite to make. The dish is full of hearty flavors and sits in a long braise resulting in meat that easily falls off the bone.
Course Lunch/Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine jamaican
Keyword oxtail recipe, oxtail stew
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 526.6kcal
Author Lola Osinkolu

Ingredients

  • 3 lb oxtails

Seasoning and spices

  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ginger minced
  • ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon or 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons salt or add to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper or add to taste

Veggies and herb

  • ½ cup red bell pepper finely chopped
  • ½ cup green bell pepper finely chopped
  • 3 stalks green onion chopped
  • 1 onion medium size [finely chopped]
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • ½ teaspoon scotch bonnet pepper to taste
  • 1 tomato small size [diced]
  • 2 carrots sliced
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme

Cooking the oxtails

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 can butter beans or broad beans [optional]

Instructions

  • ut off excess fat: Use a kitchen shear or scissors to cut off the excess fat. The fat is good, but too much will leave your stew greasy. Trust me; you will not like it!
  • Wash the oxtails: Wash the oxtails with lemon or lime and salt and rinse out with water or vinegar (optional) until the water runs clear.
  • Pat dry: Pat the oxtails dry with a paper towel to dry any leftover water.
  • Season: Place the oxtails in a large bowl and season with allspice, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, minced ginger, chicken bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
  • Throw in the veggies – red and green bell peppers, green onion, diced onion, garlic, scotch bonnet, tomatoes, carrots, and thyme.
  • Mix well: Mix the oxtails, veggies, and seasoning together very well so that the seasoning touches every part of the meat and veggies.
  • Marinate: Leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes. It’s best between 6 to 8 hours.

Cook

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan and gently remove the oxtails one at a time from the marinade. Keep the marinade and veggies.
  • Carefully place each oxtail in the pan (don't crowd them) and braise each side for about 10 minutes on low to medium heat. Be sure to braise on all sides. This helps to build flavor and lock in the juice.
  • Add the marinade with the veggies in the pan and leave to cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat.
  • Now add the beef broth, cover, and leave to cook for 2 to 3 hours or until the oxtails become super soft.
  • Stir in the butter beans, adjust seasoning if necessary, and leave to simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Serve hot with Jamaican rice and peas or white rice.

Notes

  • Oxtail is the tail of a cow!
  • Oxtails are fatty, which means more flavor. However, you still want to make sure the fat is trimmed off as much as possible so that your stew will not end up being too greasy.

Nutrition

Calories: 526.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 13.6g | Protein: 57.5g | Fat: 26.6g | Saturated Fat: 9.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13.2g | Cholesterol: 187.1mg | Sodium: 1527.6mg | Potassium: 431.5mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 3.7g | Vitamin A: 3195.3IU | Vitamin C: 26.1mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 8.4mg