The Best Jamaican Oxtail Recipe with Black Beans

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Originally published on September 23, 2019. Updated and republished on September 21, 2023.

This authentic Jamaican Oxtail recipe is made with dried black beans (or canned black beans), oxtails, and simple ingredients that are high in flavor.

Photo of Jamaican oxtail with meat falling off the bone along side black beans and a bay leaf; Text is: Best Jamaican Oxtail Recipe.
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I learned how to cook this Jamaican Oxtail Stew from my Jamaican Mother-In-Law, who taught my boys to eat oxtails from a very young age.

Jamaican style oxtails are usually made with broad beans (also called fava beans) or butter beans (also called lima beans) but my children prefer the smaller black beans. Depending on what you prefer, you can substitute other dried or canned beans such as. 

Jamaican oxtail recipe with black beans

This is not a quick recipe, so don’t rush it. Think about making this recipe when you are meal prepping for the week ahead or on a day you wake up super early and know you’ll want a hearty dinner.

Or, if you like a heavier meal in the morning, prep this before you go to bed for a great hot meal in the morning.

Where do Oxtails come from?

Sometimes we don’t really think about where our food comes from. 

I love this article that explains what an oxtail is.

Also, in case you are not familiar with purchasing Oxtails, they can be purchased at some butcher stops, farmers markets and farm stores. Some grocery stores sell oxtails. They are usually sold in the meat case and are often frozen. Here’s what they look like from my local grocery store.

frozen package of oxtails

Jamaican Oxtail Cooking Variations

I like to cook this delicious Jamaican oxtail stew in my Power Cooker. This allows the oxtails to cook at high heat and pressure for a while and then slow cooked overnight.

This makes the meat so soft that it easily drops off the bone. It also allows the vegetables and herbs to be really incorporated into the gravy.

  • Oxtails can also be cooked in a large pot or dutch oven on the stove, using medium heat for most of the cooking time. With this method, you’ll definitely need to be stirring occasionally. These recipes will usually start with browning the oxtail.
  • This recipe uses frozen oxtail (because it is often sold frozen). If your oxtail is fresh or thawed out, the time in the pressure cooker can be reduced.
  • Some cooking methods use corn starch to thicken the gravy. Traditionally the final dish is usually served quite thick. The pictures here have a thinner broth.
  • Some cooking methods use melted brown sugar or browning sauce to add color and flavor.
  • Scotch Bonnet peppers may be added whole towards the end of the cooking. By keeping the pepper in tact, the flavor of the pepper and not the heat of the pepper is added to the dish. (If the pepper breaks apart during cooking, the meal might be much spicier than you indended.)
Jamaican oxtail recipe with herbs before cooking

Oxtail Nutrition

Oxtails are relatively high in fat, and this is partly why they taste so good. (However, if a lower fat or lower calorie diet is needed, the fat can be skimmed out of this dish, either while hot or after it has been cooled.)

Oxtail is high in collagen, which is why they require a longer cooking time with plenty of liquid. Collagen is an important protein in bone broths and has lots of health benefits.

This recipe also offers the health benefits of bay leaves, thyme, garlic, pimento, parsley, onions and peppers. (Of course, the beans are very nutritious as well.)

Recipe Adaptions

This recipe can be adapted in several ways to meet your preferences or dietary needs.

  • Canned beans can be used in place of dried beans.
  • Black beans can be swapped out for other types of beans.
  • Ginger can be added for an additional layer of flavor. Either dried ginger or fresh ginger would work. 
  • Scotch Bonnet Pepper can be added for spice. Handle these with care. I recommend using gloves when working with these very hot peppers.
  • A dash of soy sauce or tomato ketchup can be added to increase the umami taste (or savory taste) of this dish. (These are not single ingredient groceries, but can be very helpful in recipes, if tolerated.)
  • Some people use Worcestershire sauce in oxtail stew, but I’m not fond of the vinegar flavor.
  • I use frozen onions, red peppers and green peppers because they are easy. Fresh onions and peppers can be used in varying combinations. If you can’t eat onions, you can omit them or use an onion substitution
  • Salt and pepper can be adjusted to taste.
  • If you can’t eat beans, you can omit these from the recipe and enjoy a rich beef broth.
frozen vegetables, herbs, and oxtails in an instant pot

Oxtail Serving Suggestions

  • Oxtails and white rice is a wonderful combination but the dish can be served several ways.
  • A customary way of serving this dish would be with a side of Jamaican Rice and Peas and a steamed vegetable.
  • This recipe could also be served in a slow carb diet style, by serving the oxtail and beans with a large serving of vegetables and no rice.
  • Keto Oxtail could be made using the above recipe but excluding the beans. The stew could be served on its own or with riced cauliflower.
  • Scallions or green onions can be used as a pretty garnish.

How to Make Jamaican Oxtail and Black Beans

Jamaican oxtail recipe in a pot

Serves 8

Prep Time: 00:15
Cook Time: 10:00

Main Ingredients

  • 1.5 – 2 pounds sliced oxtail (frozen, washed)
  • 2 cups sliced onions, green peppers, red peppers. (I use a frozen mix to save time. )
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 10 pimentos
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 6 whole bay leaves
  • 1.5 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt (I like pink salt in this recipe. sea salt is also great. )
  • 1 .5 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons parsley flakes
  • 10 sprigs of thyme (fresh or frozen)
  • 3 cups water
  • 6 cups prepared black beans (this is the equivalent of one pound of dried beans that have been soaked and cooked according to package instructions.)

Check out the Single Ingredient Groceries online store to find high quality ingredients.

spices and bag of frozen vegetables displayed

Preparation

  1. Add the Oxtails to the pot.
  2. Add all vegetables, herbs, and seasonings. (Do not add the beans yet.)
  3. Add water.
  4. Cook in Pressure Cooker for 1.5 hours.
  5. Add beans.
  6. Cook in Pressure Cooker for additional 30 minutes.
  7. After two hours of cooking in the pressure cooker, the meat will be cooked and softened but the connective tissue will not be fully broken down.
  8. Cook on Low Temp Cook / Slow Cooker setting for 6 hours.
  9. This allows the meat to be cooked to a darker color and the meat will easily fall from the bone. The connective tissue will be fully broken down. The marrow will release in to the sauce (or can be sucked out of the bone).
  10. Also, there is a small disk-shaped bone in the center of the top of the oxtail slices. This should easily slide off the rest of the bone when the connective tissue has been fully broken down.

Jamaican Oxtail Recipe with Black Beans

This authentic Jamaican Oxtail recipe is made with dried black beans (or canned black beans), oxtails, and simple ingredients that are high in flavor. Jamaican style oxtails are usually made with broad beans (also called fava beans) but my children prefer the smaller black beans. This is not a quick recipe, so don’t rush it. Think about making this recipe when you are meal prepping for the week ahead or on a day you wake up super early and know you’ll want a hearty dinner. Or, if you like a heavier meal in the morning, prep this before you go to bed for a great hot meal in the morning. ​
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time10 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Jamaican
Servings: 8
Author: Dr. Lisa Hugh DHA MSHS RD LDN CLT

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1.5 – 2 pound Sliced Oxtail Often sold in frozen packages. Weight may vary. Wash meat after opening package.
  • 2 cups Sliced Onions, Green Peppers, Red Peppers I use a frozen mix to save time.
  • 2 tablespoons Minced Garlic
  • 10 each Pimentos
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 6 each Whole Bay Leaf
  • 1.5 teaspoons Black Pepper
  • 1.5 teaspoons Salt I like pink salt in this recipe. Sea Salt is also great.
  • 1.5 teaspoons Onion Powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons Garlic Powder
  • 2 tablespoons Parsley Flakes
  • 10 springs Thyme Fresh or Frozen
  • 3 cups Water
  • 6 cups Black Beans, prepared This is equivalent to one pound of dried beans that have been soaked and cooked according to package instructions.

Instructions

  • Add the oxtails to the pot.
    Washed and sliced uncooked oxtails in a white bowl for Single Ingredient Groceries.
  • Add all vegetables, herbs, and seasonings. Do not add the beans yet.
    Washed and Sliced Oxtails in a white bowl with fresh springs of thyme for Single Ingredient Groceries.
  • Add water.
    Oxtails with thyme, bay leaf, onions, peppers, seasonings in an instant pot for Single Ingredient Groceries.
  • Cook on Pressure Cooker mode for 1.5 hours.
  • Add beans.
  • Cook on Pressure Cooker mode for additional 30 minutes.
  • After cooking under pressure, the meat will be cooked and softened but the connective tissue will not be fully broken down.
    Jamaican Oxtail and black beans after pressure cooking but not yet finished. For Single Ingredient Groceries.
  • Cook on low temperature (slow cooker setting) for 6 hours.
    This allows the meat to be cooked to a darker color and the meat will easily fall from the bone. The connective tissue will be fully broken down. The marrow will release in to the sauce (or can be sucked out of the bone).
    Oxtail with Black Beans and Bay Leaf in an Instant Pot; Recipe for Single Ingredient Groceries.
  • This allows the meat to be cooked to a darker color and the meat will easily fall from the bone. The connective tissue will be fully broken down. The marrow will release in to the sauce (or can be sucked out of the bone).
    Authentic Jamaican Oxtail Stew with Black Beans and bay leaf in clear glass bowl. The meat is falling off the bone; for Single Ingredient Groceries.
  • There is a small disk-shaped bone in the center of the top of the oxtail slices. This should easily slide off of the rest of the bone when the connective tissue has been fully broken down.
    Cooked Jamaican Oxtail stew in a white bowl with a spoon. Meat is falling off the bone and connective tissue is broken down. The bones are separating; for Single Ingredient Groceries

Final Thoughts

Have you tried other styles of Oxtail? 

How do you like to cook Oxtail? 

​Share in the comments below. 

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Jamaican oxtail recipe with black beans

Author

  • Dr. Lisa Hugh DHA MSHS RD LDN CLT

    Dr. Lisa Hugh is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Leap Therapist. She is a Doctor of Healthcare Administration and has a Master's of Science in Healthcare Administration. As a Food Sensitivity Expert, her passion is helping people with complex medical and nutrition needs find food and groceries that are safe and enjoyable. Lisa enjoys helping clients in her private practice.

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6 thoughts on “The Best Jamaican Oxtail Recipe with Black Beans”

  1. Oxtails usually takes hours to cook. But wow, the flavor and the tenderness the oxtail brings is worth it. Lucky for me, I m a pressure cooking fanatic and found that using a pressure cooker cuts the time of cooking oxtail by a ton. For this recipe, you can use a pressure cooker or even a slow cooker.

    Reply
  2. Oxtails usually takes hours to cook. But wow, the flavor and the tenderness the oxtail brings is worth it. Lucky for me, I m a pressure cooking fanatic and found that using a pressure cooker cuts the time of cooking oxtail by a ton. For this recipe, you can use a pressure cooker or even a slow cooker.

    Reply
    • Hi! I’m so sorry for not responding sooner! Life has taken a spin with social distancing and working from home. I hope you are doing well.
      I would probably increase the seasoning and vegetables etc by 1.5 or 2 (double), then add more seasoning at the end if it is bland.
      Better than adding too much and having the flavor too strong at the end.

      Reply
    • Sorry, I forgot to add, you could follow the same pressure cooker directions. Before changing to slow cook /overnight check the meat. It should be full cooked but not yet soft. If it is not fully cooked you can add 30-60 minutes in pressure cooker.

      Reply

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