Male goat’s head, intestines and testicles. Yes, these are some of the main ingredients for one of Jamaica’s most popular soups, mannish water.
If you are a foodie and a fan of trying out new cuisine irrespective of its ingredients, then this spicy dish should definitely be the next to taste on your culinary bucket list.
Also known as “Jamaica’s favorite party soup,” other mannish water ingredients include dumplings, hot peppers, coconut, yam and green bananas. The soup, which is preferably prepared with a male goat and served at social gatherings including weddings and parties is believed to be an aphrodisiac.
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A Jamaican chef, who was interviewed by Vice explained why male goats are preferred to females.
“Mannish water is always made from a male goat. Never a female,” he said.
“It’s believed that meat from a male goat will bring vigor. Also, apparently ram goat urine has a scent that attracts the female goat.”
For clarification sake, the ram’s urine isn’t used to prepare the meal, so hold your horses and take a deep breath!
According to the chef, just like some other third world countries, “it is only the male goat that is prized and killed for eating. The females are kept for pets and milk.”
Salivating yet? Take a look at the recipe as provided by Sian’s Cooking if you want to give it a try. Let us know if it got you in the mood too! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 4 lb. goat’s head and tripe (cut into small pieces)
- 4 gal water
- 3 TB. salt
- 12 lg. green bananas chopped
- 1 lb. coco malanga, chopped
- 1 lb. yam ñame, chopped
- 1 lb. carrots diced
- 1 lb. cho cho chayote, diced
- 1 lb. potatoes chopped
- 1 lb. flour for dumpling
- 1 bunch scallions about 6 stalks, chopped
- 1 med. Habanero pepper whole
- 4 sprigs Thyme
- 1 C overproof white rum
- Bacardi, Wray & Nephew, etc.
- 3 pks pumpkin or mannish water soup mix
Instructions
- Clean meat thoroughly with diluted vinegar water.
- In a 14qt or larger pot, add meat to salted boiling water and let it scald for about 10 minutes. Discard the water.
- Add 2 gals of water and 1 TB salt to the pot and return to the fire.
- Cover and let meat simmer over medium heat for 1 hour.
- While meat cooks, prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Cut tips from bananas, leave skin on, cut into small rounds.
- Peel and cut the remaining vegetables into small bite sized pieces.
- After meat has cooked, add vegetables and other ground provisions to the pot.
- Prepare the dumplings.
- Add more water, up to 2 gallons.
- Cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add dumplings to the pot. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Add remaining ingredients, cover and simmer for an additional 20 minutes.
- Taste for flavor.
- Add more salt and black pepper if desired.
