Go Back
Steam Fish with okra

Jamaican Steam Fish with Okra Recipe - Roxy Chow Down

You'll be hooked on this authentic Jamaican Steam Fish and Okra recipe that's richly flavourful & filling! Learn how to cook this Jamaican seafood favourite that's loaded with the delicious natural flavours of coconut milk, pumpkin and scotch bonnet peppers. Get all my secret tips to make perfectly-steamed snapper fish every time. BONUS recipe VIDEO included for you!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine Caribbean, Jamaican
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 3 - 4 medium whole red or yellowtail snapper fish or sliced kingfish
  • 3-4 tsp salt to taste (1 tsp per whole fish)
  • 1½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp cooking oil
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 2-3 tbsp butter
  • ½ small irish potato julienned (optional)
  • pumpkin diced (optional)
  • ½ small carrot julienned
  • ½ medium scotch bonnet pepper or to taste (de-seeded)
  • 5 garlic cloves crushed & finely chopped
  • ½ small onion chopped
  • 1 - 2 stalk scallion crushed
  • ½ green bell pepper
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 6 - 8 pimento seeds
  • ½ - 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1-2 cup water room-temp
  • 8 -12 okras chopped
  • 6 - 8 Jamaican 'tough' water crackers optional

Roxy's 'NO MSG' Steam Fish FLAVOUR Mix

  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp allspice powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder pure powder, no salt added
  • 1 tsp onion powder pure powder, no salt added
  • 1/2 tsp oregano dried
  • 1/2 tsp corriander leaves
  • 1/2 tsp basil dried

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the fish by scaling, gutting and washing thoroughly in lime or vinegar water. (Go check out my YouTube Video to learn how to scale and clean fish at home!)
  • Drain all the liquid from the fish and pat them dry with thick paper towel.
  • Season the fish with salt and black pepper.
  • Wash and prep the fresh seasoning and vegetables then set aside.
  • Wash and prep the okra then set aside in a separate bowl.
  • In a large, wide skillet, heat the cooking oil on medium-heat for 1 minute.
  • Add the curry powder and stir with a large wooden spoon for 1 minute.
  • Add the diced pumpkin, chopped onions, garlic, thyme, pimento, scotch bonnet, bell peppers, carrots and irish potato, then cover the pot and let them cook on medium-high heat for 2 minutes.
  • Do not add the okras at this point. The okras are added later on in the recipe.
  • Use a large spoon to spread the sautéed vegetables and seasonings evenly in the pot to form a 'bed' for the fish. Add the butter to the center of the pot and let it melt.
  • Use tongs to lay the fish side by side on the bed of seasoning and vegetables, then add ½ cup coconut milk. Cover the pot to let the fish steam on medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, combine the dried and powdered ingredients listed above for the 'Steam Fish Seasoning Mix'. (This 'made from scratch' Steam Fish seasoning gives you a healthy and flavourful MSG-free dish.) If you have a packaged 'fish tea soup mix' that does not contain MSG, you may use it instead of this mix.
  • Sprinkle the 'steam fish mix' evenly over all the fish.
  • Add a ¼ - ½ cup of water to the pot, cover it and let the fish steam for 5 minutes.
  • Stay close to the pot during the cooking process and keep the heat between medium and medium-low.
  • After 5 minutes, spoon the hot liquid in the pot over the top of the fish, to help cook the fish evenly. (Go check out my YouTube video for a demonstration of this technique.)
  • Cover the pot and let the fish steam for 10 minutes more.
  • Check the pot every 3-5 minutes to ensure the liquid hasn’t dried out.
  • When the liquid runs low, add another ¼ cup of water and lower the heat.
  • After about 10 minutes, add the okra and crackers to the pot and spoon some of the liquid in the pot over them. Cover the pot and steam for 5 minutes.
  • Total cooking time is approximately 30 minutes depending on the size of the fish. If you use sliced Kingfish, the fish will cook sooner.
  • Stick a fork in the center of the fish to test if it is completely cooked. The fish is fully cooked when the flesh is 'white' all the way down to the bone.
  • Serve your delicious Jamaican Steam Fish with your choice of rice, ground provisions, bammy or festivals.
  • Bless up & enjoy it!
  • Loved this recipe? That's awesome! Please show me some love & support by leaving a 5-STAR rating and Review. Thanks in advance - Roxy xoxo
Keyword How to make Jamaican steam fish, How to steam jamaican fish, Jamaican beach style steam fish recipe, jamaican fish, Jamaican fish recipes snapper, Jamaican seafood dinner recipe, jamaican seafood recipes, jamaican steam fish, jamaican steam fish and crackers, jamaican steam fish and okra recipe, jamaican steam fish healthy, jamaican steam fish recipe, jamaican steam fish with coconut milk, Jamaican steam fish with pumpkin, Jamaican steamed fish recipe, Jamaican steamed snapper recipe, steam fish, steam snapper recipe, steamed king fish recipe