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Tender Jamaican oxtail recipe braised in glossy mahogany gravy with creamy butter beans and sliced carrots.

Jamaican Oxtail Recipe

Rebecca Blumer
Tender Jamaican oxtail braised under pressure with allspice, aromatics, and savory browning sauce, finished in a rich, glossy gravy with creamy butter beans.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Caribbean, Jamaican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 876 kcal

Equipment

  • 6 Qt Pressure Cooker
  • Wooden Spatula

Ingredients
 

  • 2.5 lbs oxtails
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon browning
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 4 green onions chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic chopped
  • 2 whole carrots chopped
  • 1 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper seeds and membrane removed and chopped
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 Tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 16 oz can Butter Beans drained

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the oxtails with water and vinegar, then dry them very well with paper towels before seasoning with the brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, ground allspice, and browning. Rub the seasoning mixture over every piece until the oxtails look evenly coated and dark.
  • Set a 6-quart pressure cooker to High Sauté and heat the vegetable oil, then arrange the larger oxtail pieces flat side down with about ¼ inch between them. Brown the pieces on all sides until they develop a deep mahogany crust and release easily from the pot.
  • Transfer the browned oxtails to a bowl. Leave the browned bits and rendered flavor in the pressure cooker insert.
  • Pour about 2 Tablespoons of the beef broth into the hot insert and scrape the bottom with a wooden spatula, then add the yellow onion, green onions, carrots, garlic, and chopped pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onions soften and the garlic and thyme-like aromatics smell fragrant.
  • Stir in the dried thyme, reserved oxtails and their seasoning liquid, remaining beef broth, and ketchup. The liquid should look deeply colored, with the browned bits fully loosened from the bottom.
  • Cancel the Sauté setting, lock the lid, and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes, then allow a full natural pressure release. The meat should feel yielding around the bone when pierced with a fork; avoid rushing the release.
  • Lift out the oxtails and vegetables, leaving the cooking liquid behind, then set the cooker to Sauté and bring the liquid to a simmer. Skim off any excess surface fat before thickening so the gravy tastes rich rather than oily.
  • Mix the cornstarch and water in a separate bowl, stir the slurry into the simmering liquid, then add the drained Butter Beans and simmer for about 5 minutes. The gravy is ready when it lightly coats the back of a spoon and the beans are warmed but still whole.
  • Return the oxtails and vegetables to the thickened gravy and turn them gently to coat. The finished braise should be glossy, deeply savory, and tender enough for the meat to pull easily from the bone.

Notes

Gravy tip: Skim off excess rendered fat from the surface of the cooking liquid before stirring in the cornstarch slurry to ensure the sauce tastes clean and rich rather than oily.
Bean handling: Add the drained butter beans only during the final 5-minute simmer so they absorb the savory sauce while remaining completely intact.
Storage: Allow leftovers to cool completely before transferring to airtight containers and refrigerating. Chilling firms the surface fat, making it easy to remove before reheating.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.
Keyword Caribbean braised beef, Jamaican oxtail recipe, Jamaican oxtails, pressure cooker oxtail