Bammy
/ BAM-ee /Quick answer: Bammy (pronounced BAM-ee) is traditional Jamaican cassava flatbread.
What does Bammy mean?
Bammy is a round, flat bread made from grated cassava. It is soaked in coconut milk or water and then fried or steamed, and it’s the classic partner for fried or escovitch fish.
Where does Bammy come from?
Bammy comes from the cassava bread of Jamaica’s first people, the Taíno, and is one of the oldest foods on the island. Today it’s especially linked to St. Elizabeth and to beach spots like Hellshire and Port Royal.
How to use Bammy
Order ‘fry fish an’ bammy’ at any seaside cook shop.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Fry fish an’ bammy down a Hellshire. | Fried fish and bammy at Hellshire Beach. |
| Soak di bammy inna coconut milk. | Soak the bammy in coconut milk. |
| Gimme two bammy. | Give me two bammies. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: bammie.
Related Patois words
Cassava · Escovitch · Festival · Fry fish
Frequently asked
What is bammy made from?
Grated cassava.
What do you eat bammy with?
Fried or escovitch fish.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Bammy in the dictionary.