Jamaican Mannish Water
Jamaican Mannish Water Soup is a traditional goat soup enjoyed by many. Also known as goat head soup, this broth-based soup is best enjoyed during the Christmas holidays.
If you’re from the Caribbean, you must know about mannish water.
I remember growing up, this soup was always the appetizer to start the feast during the Christmas holidays.
It wasn’t often that we’d make this Jamaican broth, but when I do have it, it brings back all these nostalgic feelings, no matter what time of the year I’m having it.
I can’t thank my in-laws enough for always supplying me with the good stuff, especially to make these traditional Jamaican recipes for you guys.
I’ve always wanted to share this recipe with you guys, and I’m so glad the opportunity is here for me to do this today.
What Is Mannish Water?
Mannish Water is a broth-based goat soup in Jamaican cuisine.
Traditionally enjoyed during the Christmas holidays, this goat head soup is also a popular treat at stage shows, parties, or family gatherings such as funerals (nine night service).
To some, mannish water is said to be an aphrodisiac as it often contains various goat parts, including the head, feet, and genital parts.
Ingredients To Use
What makes a great Caribbean soup is a type of meat, various ground provisions, and a few herbs and spices for aromatics and flavors.
The ingredients listed are the main components for the best mannish water soup:
- Goat Meat – goat head and feet are usually the main ingredients. You can also add other parts of the goat, like the shoulder, legs, or ribs.
- Aromatics – thyme, escallion, pimento seeds, garlic
- Ground Provision – pumpkin, green banana, potato, carrots
- Spices – all-purpose seasoning, salt, scotch bonnet pepper
- Other ingredients – ram goat soup mix, water, flour
How To Mannish Water Soup
What I love most about making different types of soup is getting started is always so easy.
I learned a lot from my mom when I started making different soups for myself, and with those lessons, I can assure you that you’ll love this easy broth soup.
Steps:
- Wash and clean goat meat in lime, vinegar, and water. Most mannish water soups use goat heads and feet, but any part will do.
- Pour water into a pressure cooker pot, then add goat meat, pimento seeds, and garlic. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Allow meat to cook for 10 minutes before covering with a pressure cooker cover. Allow meat to cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the pot to cool before opening it.
- Return to heat and bring back to a boil. Add more water if needed.
- Add pumpkin, carrots, salt, and green banana to soup-based and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in soup mix and all-purpose seasoning, then continue simmering for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, make dumpling dough and set aside.
- Add the remaining ingredients – dumplings, potato, thyme, escallion, and scotch bonnet pepper.
- Stir and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until soup thickens.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Serving Suggestions
Soups are often an appetizer to a full-course meal.
Many Caribbean folks have their mannish water or any other soup with no additional meals.
However, you can add a light side to your soup to make it a more complete meal.
Tips For Making Mannish Water
Here are some of my best tips when making this recipe:
- Always start your soup base with pimento, salt, and garlic. This helps get the flavors going throughout your soup.
- You can also add other ingredients, such as sweet potato. yam, plantain and cassava.
- If using a pressure cooker pot for this recipe, always allow it to cool down before opening it. You can place the pot under running water for faster cooling.
- If you don’t have a pressure cooker pot, you can cook your goat meat on the stovetop for about an hour or until the meat starts to fall off the bone.
- Add other soup mixes or broths, such as chicken or vegetable, for more flavor and body.
Storage Tips
Store your soup in an airtight container and place it in your refrigerator for 2-3 days.
I’ve never had soup last in my house less than two days.
Like many other soups and dishes, this flavorful soup will taste even better when reheated the next day. Enjoy!
Other Jamaican Recipes:
Thanks for being here and I hope you enjoyed the recipe and content.
Comment below if you made this recipe. You can also take a photo and tag me on Instagram @theshyfoodblogger and hashtag #theshyfoodblogger.
Connect and follow me for more content and recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok.
~ TheShyFoodBlogger
Jamaican Mannish Water
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb goat meat
- pimento seeds a few
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup pumpkin chopped
- 2-3 green bananas
- 1 large carrot chopped
- 1 large russet potato chopped
- 1 pkg ram goat soup mix
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 2 stalks escallion
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
- 6 cups water
Instructions
- Wash and clean goat meat in lime, vinegar, and water. Most mannish water soups use goat heads and feet, but any part will do.
- Pour water into a pressure cooker pot, then add goat meat, pimento seeds, and garlic. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Allow meat to cook for 10 minutes before covering with a pressure cooker cover. Allow meat to cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the pot to cool before opening it.
- Return to heat and bring back to a boil. Add more water if needed.
- Add pumpkin, carrots, salt, and green banana to soup-based and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in soup mix and all-purpose seasoning, then continue simmering for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, make dumpling dough and set aside.
- Add the remaining ingredients – dumplings, potato, thyme, escallion, and scotch bonnet pepper.
- Stir and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until soup thickens.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Directions for Spinners Dumpling:
- Sift flour in a bowl, then stir in salt. Add small amounts of water at a time and combine to make a stiff dough.
- Pinch small pieces from the dough and rub between the palms of your hands to form long-shaped dumplings. Drop into the stew when ready.
Notes
Notes for Making Mannish Water
- Make your soup even better by adding cho-cho, and yellow yam for a heartier soup.
- You can also add 1 tablespoon butter for added flavor.
- NEVER open the pressure cooker pot when hot. Allow the pot to cool under running water before opening it.
