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Green seasoning is a fresh marinade that adds a real boost of flavor to your favorite Caribbean recipes, from stews and curries to rice and veggies. Once it’s blended, you can add it to just about anything to build flavor.
One of my favorite ways to use green seasoning is as a marinade for Jamaican oxtail. And for more authentic Jamaican flavor, try my jerk marinade next.
fresh green seasoning
One thing you can always find in my fridge is green seasoning. It’s the foundation of so many Jamaican dishes. Growing up, my mom would just call it “blend up seasoning,” and that’s exactly what it is.
I like to make a big batch so I always have it ready to punch up any recipe. Everything goes straight into the blender, and in minutes, you have something that can carry stews, curries, or whatever you’re cooking that day. Once you start using it, it just becomes part of how you cook.
Why you’ll love this green seasoning Recipe
- Versatile: Use it as a marinade or a quick seasoning for oxtail, brown stew chicken, roasted meats, or even stirred into rice and sautéed veggies for extra flavor.
- Stores Well: Make a batch and keep it in the fridge for weeks, or freeze it so you always have some ready whenever you need it.
- Quick & Easy: I make this in just 10 minutes. Prep it once and use it throughout the week.
What is green Seasoning?
Green seasoning is a fresh blend of herbs and aromatics used as a cooking base in Caribbean cooking. It’s typically made by blending ingredients like scallions, thyme, garlic, peppers, and herbs into a smooth mixture. This all-purpose marinade is used to season seafood, vegetables, and meat, helping build flavor before and during cooking. It’s a staple in many Caribbean kitchens because it adds depth and consistency to a wide range of dishes.
ingredients for caribbean green seasoning
- Onion, garlic, and scallion: These build the base of the seasoning, adding depth, sharpness, and that savory flavor that carries through whatever you’re cooking.
- Fresh thyme and parsley: These herbs bring that signature fresh, green flavor that makes this blend taste like Caribbean cooking.
- Scotch bonnet pepper: Adds heat and a distinct flavor that sets this seasoning apart, even if you remove the seeds for a milder version.
- Green and red bell peppers: These add body to the blend along with a mix of freshness and slight sweetness to balance everything out.
- Fresh ginger root: Brings a warm, slightly spicy note that adds another layer of depth.
- Pimento seeds (allspice berries): Add a subtle warmth and spice that’s key to that familiar Caribbean flavor profile.
- Salt, olive oil, white vinegar, and lime juice: These help pull everything together, balance the flavors, and slightly extend the shelf life of the seasoning.
How to make green seasoning
I roughly chop all of the ingredients to make them easier to blend, then add everything to a blender or food processor. I blend until the mixture is smooth but still has a little texture. Once it’s done, I transfer it to a jar or container and store it in the fridge or portion it into freezer trays for later.
If I’m using it sooner, I keep it in a lidded jar or container in the fridge. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
freezing green seasoning
Once I’ve blended the green seasoning, I like to portion some of it into freezer-safe trays so it’s ready to use whenever I need it. I pour the mixture into each section, freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a sealed bag or container so they don’t take on any freezer smell. That way, I can just grab a cube or two and add it straight into whatever I’m cooking.
recipe Tips
- Roughly chop before blending. Cutting the ingredients into smaller pieces helps everything blend more evenly and prevents overworking the mixture.
- Don’t over-blend. Blend until smooth but leave a little texture so it doesn’t turn into a watery puree.
- Taste and adjust. Since measurements don’t have to be exact, taste your green seasoning and adjust salt, heat, or herbs to suit your preference.
- Control the heat. Remove the seeds from the scotch bonnet or use less of it if you want a milder flavor.
- Use fresh ingredients. Fresh herbs and aromatics make a noticeable difference in both flavor and shelf life.
- Add vinegar and lime. The acidity helps balance the flavor and supports preservation.
- Store it properly. Keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge or freeze in portions so you always have some ready to use.
How to Use Green Seasoning
- Oxtail: Use it as a marinade to season the meat before cooking so the flavor is built in from the start.
- Curries: Add it at the beginning to build a strong flavor base that carries through the entire dish. I like to use it in my Jamaican curry chicken recipe.
- Chicken: This seasoning adds a foundation of flavor to chicken. I use it to season my deep fried chicken wings.
- Stew: Stir it in while cooking to deepen the flavor and bring everything together.
- Fish or seafood: Coat before cooking to add a fresh, well-seasoned base.
- Rice: Mix it in while cooking or after for an easy boost of flavor.
- Veggies: Toss with it before sautéing or roasting to add depth without much effort.
recipe variations
- Adjust the peppers. If you feel like there are too many peppers, you can scale them back or swap in milder ones. I like the balance as written, but you can always adjust based on your heat tolerance and preference.
- Skip or swap the parsley. If parsley isn’t your thing, you can leave it out or replace it with more scallion or thyme. The flavor will shift slightly, but it will still work.
- Add cilantro. I’ve used cilantro in other versions of my green seasoning, and it adds another layer of fresh flavor. You can mix it in or swap it in for the parsley depending on what you prefer.
frequently asked questions
Jamaicans use green seasoning as an all-purpose marinade and flavor base. It’s used to season meat, seafood, and vegetables and is often added at the start of cooking to build flavor.
Green seasoning and sofrito are both blended herb and aromatic bases, but they’re not the same. Green seasoning uses ingredients like thyme, scallion, and scotch bonnet, while sofrito varies by region and often includes cilantro and other peppers.
You can use it right away, but letting it sit for a few hours helps the flavors come together more. It still works well even if you’re using it the same day.
I Hope you enjoyed making this green seasoning!
If you try it, let me know how it turns out. I’d love to hear from you.
For more Jamaican-inspired home cooking, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok where I share new dishes, tips, and real-time cooking in my kitchen.
Caribbean Green Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Airtight jar or container
- Freezer-safe trays if freezing
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 8 garlic cloves
- 4 scallion stalks
- 1/2 cup fresh thyme sprigs, roughly chopped
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper, remove the seeds for milder spice, if desired
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1.5- inch fresh ginger root
- 1 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tsp pimento seeds/allspice berries
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- Juice from 1/2 lime
Instructions
- Chop and blend all of the ingredients together.
- Yields approximately 3 cups.
- Store in a lidded jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month or in covered ice cube trays for up to 6 months.
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