Jamaican Oxtail Chow Mein (Jamaican-Chinese Fusion Recipe)

Why You’ll Love This Jamaican Oxtail Chow Mein

If you’ve ever had Jamaican oxtail and Chinese lo mein, imagine what happens when these two iconic comfort foods collide! This dish is rich, savory, slightly sweet, and absolutely packed with flavor-perfect for Sunday dinner or impressing guests.

It’s a delicious nod to the cultural blend of Jamaican and Chinese culinary traditions, especially seen throughout the Caribbean particularly in places like Jamaica and Guyana.

What is Jamaican-Chinese Fusion?

Jamaican-Chinese cuisine is a flavorful mashup that emerged from the Chinese diaspora settling in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica and Guyana.

Dishes like fried rice with jerk chicken, Chinese-style red pork, and now oxtail lo mein have become iconic blends in Caribbean households.

This fusion celebrates bold seasonings like browning, soy sauce, ginger, scallion, and scotch bonnet that blend into something greater than the sum of its parts.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. The full measurements are listed below.

For the Braised Oxtail

• 3.5 lbs oxtail, trimmed
• 1/2 tbsp Browning sauce
• 1 tsp All-purpose seasoning
• 1 tsp of each: Garlic powder, onion powder, oxtail seasoning
• Fresh sprigs of thyme (small handful), 2 scallion, chopped, 1 small onion, finely chopped, scotch bonnet pepper (optional) and 5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 2-3 tbsp Ketchup or tomato paste
• 1 tsp Soy sauce
• 1/4 cup Brown sugar (Demarara brown sugar or turbinado preferred)

For the Chow Mein

• 12 oz Lo mein or Chow Mein noodles
• 1/4 of Red pepper, sliced
• 1/4 of Green Pepper, sliced
• 1/2 of Red onion, sliced
• 1 Carrot, julienned
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
• 2-3 tbsp Guyanese Stir Fry Sauce
• A splash of oyster sauce or fish sauce (for depth)
• Green onions, for garnish

Directions

Trim, rinse, and pat oxtail dry. Add all purpose seasoning, oxtail seasoning, onion & garlic powder, soy sauce, and browning sauce (I recommend Grace browning sauce or Gravy Master). Add finely chopped onions, garlic, and scallion. Combine all ingredients, massage the seasoning into the oxtail and marinate for 2-3 hours.

Place a large dutch oven pot on medium heat and warm the pot for 2-3 minutes. Add brown sugar and sauté until sugar melts and becomes frothy. Do not allow the sugar to turn black. It will make your dish bitter. As soon as the sugar begins to foam, add the oxtail and stir. Cover with a lid. After 45 minutes, the oxtail will have sprung its own broth. Now add 3 tbsp of ketchup, 3 cups of water, 2 tsp of browning sauce. You will need to season the gravy at this point as well. Go ahead and add 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of oxtail seasoning, and 1 tsp of all purpose seasoning. Maintain medium heat and cook until tender which will take approximately 1 hour.

How to Make Guyanese Chow Mein

Place a large pot of water with added salt on medium heat and bring to a rolling boil. Once water has boiled, add package of lo mein or chow mein noodles and boil for 10-12 minutes. Once noodles are cooked al dente, strain and rinse the noodles in cold water to stop the cooking process.

Place the same pot on low medium heat, and add 1 tbsp of oil. Heat for 2 minutes and sauté onion and bell peppers. Grate fresh ginger and continue to sauté. Add noodles, soy sauce, stir fry sauce, and fish sauce. Stir for 2-3 minutes and enjoy!

FAQs

Can I use another protein besides oxtail?

Yes! Try braised short ribs, beef neck bones, or even jerk-style shredded chicken.

Where can I find lo mein noodles?

Asian markets or the international aisle of most grocery stores will carry lo mein or egg noodles. You can also use spaghetti in a pinch.

Is this recipe kid-friendly?

Absolutely! You can control the spice level and the noodles make it fun and familiar for kids.