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Loading...A beloved Sunday dinner across Jamaica, this rich and gelatinous cow foot stew is slow-simmered with butter beans, root vegetables, and aromatic island spices until every bite is silky, savory, and deeply satisfying. The collagen-rich broth thickens naturally as it cools, making the leftovers even more luxurious the next day.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time180 mins
Total Time200 mins
Servings6
Yield6 hearty servings
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 480 kcalCalories
- 22 gFat
- 8 gSaturated Fat
- 38 gCarbs
- 6 gFiber
- 5 gSugar
- 30 gProtein
- 720 mgSodium
- 980 mgPotassium
- 95 mgCalcium
- 5 mgIron
- 18 mgVitamin C
- 280 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the stew base
- 3 lbs cow foot, cleaned and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 10 cups cold water, divided
- 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
- 4 scallions, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp whole allspice (pimento) berries
- 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the vegetables and beans
- 2 cups cooked butter beans, drained
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
- 1 lb yellow yam, peeled and cubed
- 1 medium Irish potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 large ripe plantain, peeled and sliced on the bias
- 1 green (unripe) banana, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
For the spinners (Jamaican dumplings)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp fine yellow cornmeal
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup warm water
Directions
- Place the cleaned cow foot in a large heavy pot, cover with 4 cups of cold water, bring to a rolling boil for 8 minutes, then drain and rinse the meat well to remove scum and bone fragments.
- Return the parboiled cow foot to the pot with the remaining 6 cups of water, then add the onion, garlic, scallions, thyme, allspice berries, scotch bonnet, salt, and black pepper; bring back to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 2 hours until the meat is fork-tender and the broth turns cloudy with collagen.
- While the stew simmers, make the spinners by stirring together the flour, cornmeal, and salt in a bowl, then gradually adding warm water until a stiff, non-sticky dough forms; roll teaspoonfuls of dough into thin 3-inch cigar shapes and set them on a floured plate.
- Skim any excess foam from the pot, then stir in the carrots, yam, Irish potato, and butter beans; continue simmering uncovered for 30 minutes until the root vegetables are nearly tender.
- Add the green banana and plantain slices, then carefully drop the spinners into the bubbling broth so they float on top; simmer another 15 to 20 minutes until the dumplings are cooked through and the stew has thickened.
- Fish out the whole scotch bonnet if anyone prefers milder heat, taste the broth, and adjust the seasoning with extra salt and pepper as needed.
- Let the stew rest off the heat for 10 minutes so the gelatin sets slightly, then ladle into deep bowls making sure each portion gets a generous mix of meat, beans, dumplings, and vegetables.
- Serve hot alongside white rice, hard dough bread, or fried plantains for an authentic Jamaican Sunday dinner experience.
Cook’s Notes
- Scrub the cow foot with lime halves and coarse salt before cooking to remove any bone dust or impurities; some Jamaican cooks briefly scorch it over an open flame to burn off stray hairs.
- A pressure cooker reduces the initial simmering time from 2 hours to about 45 minutes at high pressure with the same tender result.
- Leaving the scotch bonnet whole keeps the heat subtle and fruity; pierce it once with a knife if you want a noticeable background warmth without overwhelming spice.
- Refrigerate leftovers overnight and gently reheat the next day, the collagen will set into a soft jelly that melts back into a silky, glossy sauce with even deeper flavor.
- If butter beans are unavailable, substitute canned lima beans or soaked dried broad beans; you can also swap the plantain for an extra yam for a starchier stew.
