Golden and crispy on the outside, perfectly soft and fluffy inside, these Jamaican fried dumplings are incredibly addictive and almost impossible to put down! They’re quick to throw together with just a few pantry staples and are fabulous both sweet and savory.
These dumplings have long been one of my favorite go-to dishes! They make a quick breakfast or snack option, and I totally ate way too many on my last trip to Jamaica. We love them with spicy codfish and the traditional mango coleslaw; the result is a festival of flavors for your taste buds!
Plus, it’s a dish you can get the whole family involved in! My son loves to help me mix the dough to just the right consistency and then form the dumplings for frying. It’s a quick and straightforward process that’s fun for everyone!
Festivals vs. Fried Dumplings vs. Johnny Cakes
I absolutely love all of them. Festivals are sweeter and are longer, reminding me of a canoe. The cornmeal makes them a little more dense, and the slight sweetness pairs well with spicy dishes like jerk chicken and escovitch fish.
Fried dumplings are made with plain flour, butter, and milk, and fried into cute little golden balls. They’re a breakfast staple that goes fantastically with ackee and saltfish, callaloo, and hearty stews.
Johnny cakes are more similar to fried dumplings with a little less sugar and are beautifully portable. These biscuit-like snacks that get their name from journey cakes can be baked or fried.
How to Make Jamaican Fried Dumplings
- Mix the ingredients, and stir well.
- Knead, form the dumplings, and fry them. The recipe for festivals is included below.
- These are a 5. Love, love. I added a little more sugar so they tasted like wonderful donuts. Thank you for your recipes. Love them. Will be making many more times and telling people about your site.－ Barbara
- I didn’t have cornmeal, so I used cornstarch instead. Surprisingly, it came out great!! It was much lighter, less dense than a real Jamaican festival, but it tasted exactly the same.－Caren
- Your dumplings look absolutely delicious. However, if you offered fried dumplings to a Jamaican, s/he would not expect it to taste like a festival. Festivals include cornmeal and sugar, whereas most Jamaicans will not add sugar to their fried dumplings or spices. Both, however, are delicious!－ Andrea
I’ve included both recipes below. Thank you all for your comments!
Recipe Notes
- Test-fry a dumpling or festival before frying the entire batch. That will help you determine if your oil is at the correct temperature.
- Frying your dumplings in small batches will help them cook evenly because it will keep the oil from cooling down too much. They should fit easily in the pan with room to flip.
- You can totally spritz dumplings with a little oil and air fry them.
Make-Ahead and Leftovers
Fried foods are typically best fresh, but you can make the dough ahead and keep it chilled in the fridge for up to 2 days until ready to fry. I haven’t tried it yet, but you should be able to spritz the formed dumplings with a little oil and air fry them at 350℉ (180℃) for 15 minutes, turning them over halfway through.
If you want to freeze the dough uncooked, form the dumplings first, then flash freeze them on a baking tray, and store them in a freezer zip-lock bag when solid. They should stay fresh for a couple of months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and fry as usual.
Leftovers store well for 2-3 days in the fridge in an airtight container with a paper towel at the bottom to absorb the extra moisture. They also freeze well for a couple of months and crisp up well in the oven or an air fryer.
One of my favorite dishes to serve with dumplings is Jamaican ackee and saltfish. The mild ackee perfectly balances the salty fish. And, of course, the mango coleslaw (recipe in the notes below) goes well with almost anything.
I love serving festivals with Jamaican escovitch fish and a side of callaloo. My mouth is watering already!
More Authentic Jamaican Recipes to Try
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was originally published in June 2015 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.