January 4, 2020 | Last Updated on December 21, 2022 by Patricia Valbrun
If there’s a perfect pasta, it must be the Jamaican Rasta Pasta. It almost has everything – cheese, cream, veggies, oxtails or chicken! We’ve also added our own twist to this dish so best believe this will be a favorite. It’s also the perfect comfort food for when you need a lil pick me up or just want something delicious.
How to make Rasta Pasta
1. Avoid overcooking the bell peppers. You want the bell peppers to be a little firm so it doesn’t break up in the pasta.
2. Before cooking the pasta, make sure to check the label for timing. You can also add salt to “season” the pasta.
3. Don’t cook the pasta for too long or it will become soggy and lose its freshness. Make sure to drain the water off of your pasta but don’t leave them too long to dry.
4. Prevent your pasta from sticking together or to the pot by continuously stirring it after you drop it.
What is Rasta Pasta Sauce?
The pasta sauce is composed of butter, flour, milk or heavy whipping cream, Mexican style four cheese, mozzarella cheese, Walkerwood jerk season and jerk seasoning.
When you’re making the sauce, only add the flour once the butter is melted and slowly add the milk and continuously stir to break down the flour.
What other meats can I use with Rasta Pasta?
I love to use chicken as well instead of oxtails being that oxtails can be a bit pricey. You can also use shrimp and lamp, what ever works for you.
How to make Oxtail Sauce
This part is totally optional but, you can add more flavor to the Jamaican Rasta Pasta by adding sauce from Jamaican Oxtail Stew – a classic and a popular stew in our household. This is how I make Oxtail Stew, this is also best paired with rice and peas.
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Jamaican Rasta Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 box of penne pasta
- 1/2 each of red yellow, and green bell peppers, diced
- 1 tsp of minced garlic
- 4 cups of water
- 1 tbsp of salt
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
For the sauce:
- 2 tbsp of butter
- 1 tbsp of all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup of Mexican-style four cheese
- 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp of jerk seasoning such as Walkerwood
- 1 tsp of jerk seasoning
- 1 tsp of seasoning salt
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring four cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the water.
- Once the water is boiling, add 1 box of penne pasta and cook according to the instructions on the box. Drain the water and set the pasta aside, using the same pot.
- In a medium pan, heat some olive oil and add minced garlic and diced bell peppers. Sauté for a few minutes or until your desired texture and set aside.
- To make the roux sauce, add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour to the large pot. Bring 2 1/2 cups of heavy cream to a boil and then slowly whisk in the flour, cooking on low to medium heat. Allow the sauce to thicken for 5 minutes.
- Add the sautéed garlic and bell peppers, 1 cup of Mexican-style four cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, 2 tablespoons of jerk season (Walkerwood), 1 teaspoon of jerk seasoning, 1 teaspoon of seasoning salt, and salt and pepper to taste to the sauce. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Add the pasta to the sauce and blend everything together. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Did you enjoy this Jamaican Pasta Rasta recipe? Leave a comment and let me know what you think. You can find more pasta recipes here.
Beautifully delicious
Can you sub coconut milk for tur heavy cream in this recipe?
I’ve never tried it personally but i dont see why not . Once you start making the sauce with the flour you can keep an eye out for the consistency “how thick or thin” is it” . You can always make it thicker by using more flour. Good luck and let me know how it turns out 🙂
Do you have any Jerk Chicken Breast recipes to add to the Rasta Pasta recipe???
Hi,
I do not as of right now but because its highly requested I will post how I prepare it very soon 🙂
I use coconut milk in my rasta pasta.
I think I missed where the chicken is added and how it’s prepared. Is this under a different link?
Hi! No you didnt miss that part this recipe was orginally made with oxtails so the chicken portion is not in the video but you can easily add it in.
Can you add how you prepare the chicken to the written portion of the recipe and when it should be added?
I made this with chicken. I cut the breasts into cubes and seasoned it with salt and jerk seasonings. I tossed the chicken and covered and let set for about 1 hour before I made the rest. I seared the chicken in batches in olive oil until no longer pink. took it off the heat and set aside then I cooked the veggies and moved on with the rest of the instructions.
How many pounds of oxtails would you recommend to get for a serving of 10 people?
I love large serving so i would say around 9-10lbs of oxtails . I hope that helps 🙂
Hi,
Who much seasoning salt and salt and pepper is added to the roux?
Thanks
Hi TJ,
For seasoning salt 1 tsp for salt and pepper i would use to taste . Meaning tatse the sauce first without it and add as you go. The jerk seasoning you use is very salty and spicy depending on which one you choose, Mild or Spicy. I’ve also updated the recipe card to answer that question. Thank you so much and so happy to have you here. Happy New Year !
Hello, what is the difference between the jerk season and seasoning? In the directions you only mentioned the jerk seasoning. Please advise. Thanks
Hi Nikia,
Jerk season by walkerswood is a wet based seasoning the other one is a dry seasoning . I believe it does state the brand which should give you an idea but I will update to help others out . Thank you so much !
This recipe is truly amazing. I tried it and it turned out very nice.
I’m going to try the recipe it looks so good and delicious
Hi Barbara, I would love to hear how it turned out for you! Thank you for trying it out 🙂
What size box of pasta?
Hi Shaena! 2 cups of pasta or 16 ounces
I’ve heard great things about this recipe from a coworker! I am going to try but want to add a protein, probably chicken. What would you recommend and how should I add it in?
Hi Diana,
I would cook my chicken on the side and then add it later once the pasta recipe is all done. This recipe was also made with oxtails 🙂