Low Fat Jamaican Festival

Delight in the tropical flavors of the Caribbean with this healthier twist on a classic side dish—Low Fat Jamaican Festival! This recipe brings you all the sweet, spiced goodness of traditional Jamaican festival bread with a fraction of the fat. Crafted from a simple blend of all-purpose flour, cornmeal, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and a touch of vanilla, these lightly pan-fried festival rolls are irresistibly soft and golden brown. The recipe swaps traditional deep-frying for a skillet method using non-stick cooking spray and just a touch of oil, making it a lower-fat alternative that doesn’t compromise on flavor. Perfectly paired with jerk chicken, escovitch fish, or any hearty Caribbean dish, these festivals are easy to prepare in just 30 minutes and are a crowd-pleasing side for any occasion.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 200 grams all-purpose flour
• 50 grams cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
• 120 milliliters low-fat milk
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 60 milliliters water
• 0 as needed non-stick cooking spray

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk the dry ingredients together until evenly mixed.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, mix the low-fat milk, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Stir to combine.

Step 3

Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon. Add enough water, little by little, until the dough is slightly sticky yet firm enough to form a ball.

Step 4

Lightly flour your hands and knead the dough gently for about 1 minute, until smooth. Divide the dough into eight equal parts and roll each into a cylindrical shape, about 5 to 6 inches long.

Step 5

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly coat with non-stick cooking spray. Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil and distribute evenly.

Step 6

Place the shaped dough pieces into the skillet, ensuring they are spaced apart. Allow the festivals to cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, pressing down gently with a spatula to ensure even cooking. They should be golden brown and cooked through.

Step 7

Once cooked, remove the festivals from the skillet and let them drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

Step 8

Serve your Low Fat Jamaican Festivals warm as a side to your favorite Jamaican dishes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(495.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1315.1

Total Fat 33.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16.8g
Cholesterol 9.6mg	0%
Sodium 1698.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 226.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.6g	0%
Total Sugars 31.7g
Protein 28.3g	0%

Vitamin D 50.4IU	0%
Calcium 189.9mg	0%
Iron 10.7mg	0%
Potassium 295.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 22.6%

Protein: 8.6%

Carbs: 68.8%