Xaymaca – Jamaican Fried Dumpling / Johny Cakes

 As I mentioned yesterday, X is another alphabet which doesn’t have any country. When I was searching for a country whose former name atleast starts with X, I landed upon Jamaica. Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean sea. When we look at the history of Jamaica, the Arawak and Taino indigenous people, originating in South America settled in the island between 4000 – 1000 BC. They were there while Christopher Colombus arrived in 1494. They were also there while the British took over the island during 1655. Those Taino people called Jamaica as Xamayca in Arawakan which means The Land of Wood and Water or The Land of Springs. It is so interesting, right? So Jamaica happens to be the country for the alphabet X. 

Now coming to the recipe I chose for Xamayca, it is the famous fried dumplings from the country. These fried dumplings known as johny cakes is derived from the word Journey cakes, which are made and packed for lunch and snack of plantation workers, for a long lasting journey. These dumplings are often served as breakfast along with acklee and salt fish ( national dish of Jamaicans). But they can also be relished with butter or jam or on their own. These are mildly sweet, has a crispy crust and soft and fluffy flesh. There are so many recipes out there and each and every recipe is different. I made my own recipe with the ingredients of my choice. And I was so surprised at how they turned. They look so much like the authentic version. Make sure that you fry these dumplings on medium heat. Otherwise the crust will brown fast leaving the flesh raw.

Makes 12 Dumplings

Ingredients:

Flour-2 cups

Oil-1 tbs

Baking Powder-1 1/2 tsp

Salt-1/2 tsp

Sugar-3 tbs

Curd-2 tbs

Milk-1/2 cup

Oil-to deep fry

Procedure:

In a bowl mix together flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and oil.

Add milk and knead into a soft dough.

Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan.

Divide the dough into 12 equal portions.

Roll each into a tight ball.

Deep fry the dumplings until golden.

Serve with a side dish of your choice or relish as it is.

 

Jamaican Fried Dumplings/ Johny Cakes

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Ingredients

  

Ingredients

• Flour-2 cups
• Oil-1 tbs
• Baking Powder-1 1/2 tsp
• Salt-1/2 tsp
• Sugar-3 tbs
• Curd-2 tbs
• Milk-1/2 cup
• Oil-to deep fry

Instructions

 

Procedure

• In a bowl mix together flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and oil.
• Add milk and knead into a soft dough.
• Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal portions.
• Roll each into a tight ball.
• Deep fry the dumplings until golden.
• Serve with a side dish of your choice or relish as it is.

 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 44

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