One of Jamaica's Traditional Dishes: Dip an' fall back (Run Dung)

Jamaica’s traditional folklore is a combination of mostly African and European customs and practices. This is evident in the way Jamaicans dress, talk, dance, sing, and cook, among other rituals. Most of Jamaica’s folk styles are not credited to one, two or three individuals. To be more precise almost all the folk styles were created during the plantation period of which there is not much details about the social lifestyle of the slaves and their masters. However, credit was given to the African ancestors who preserve a lot their African traditions which they performed on the plantation.

Even though we live in a modern era, some of the customs and traditions still exist and are practice on special date highlighting the event or occasion. One thing that Jamaicans have pride in and still practice is the cooking of special dishes. Some of the dishes prepared are related to some event that took place during slavery and or before independence.

Today we look at “Dip an’ fall back” other wise called “Run Dung” (pronounce in Jamaican Creole). There is a particular folk song that gives some detail as to what “Dip an’ Fall Back” is. The chorus of the song goes like this;

Dip an’ fall back, dip an’ fall back,

My advice there is noting nice like dip an’ fall back.

So what really is dip an’ fall back?

“Dip an’ fall back” is a Jamaican dish that was discovered before independence. Dip and fall back other wise called “run dung” is cooked when meat kind such as chicken and beef are scarce on the market. Dip an’ fall back is salted fish cooked in coconut milk with spices such as chopped onion, pepper, garlic, tomato and other spices. This substitution for other meat kind was eaten with yam, banana, dumpling and other ground provisions.

Dip an’ fall back is still been cooked in some parts of Jamaica today and is now a traditional dish that is been cooked during special events such as emancipation and independence celebrations.

Here are pictures of what “dip an’ fall back” looks like it is been prepared. This version of “dip an’ fall back” has extra vegetable in it.

Salt Fish with spices and vegetable

Pre-Boiled coconut milk added

Sweet peper prepared to be added

Looking great when sweet peper is added.

Almost complete after 15 minutes of boiling

Ready to be eaten with boiled yam, banana, dumplin and potato.

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