Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe

allspice berries bone-in Caribbean cuisine Cooking flavorful cuts Grill Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken ingredients Jamaican cuisine jerk chicken marination Nutritious pimento wood Recipe scotch bonnet peppers skin-on chicken Spices

Posted October 5, 2023 by: Admin #Kitchen

This grilled Jamaican jerk chicken recipe offers a fiery, smoky, and intensely fragrant twist on a classic Jamaican dish. While it may not claim to be Grandma’s authentic jerk chicken, it’s undeniably delicious. My culinary journey began when I left my small hometown of 5,000 people in eastern Quebec for university. There, I explored a wide range of cuisines, including Greek, Thai, Indian, and Caribbean. To this day, my first experience at a Caribbean restaurant, savoring jerk chicken, remains vivid in my memory. It was love at first bite—the harmonious blend of fragrant, fiery, and smoky flavors instantly made me a jerk chicken enthusiast.

Advertisement:

Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken

The term “jerk” refers to a spice rub consisting primarily of allspice berries and scotch bonnet peppers. Jerk is a dish with roots in Jamaican cuisine, although it is also found in various Caribbean regions. Authentic jerk chicken is grilled using pimento wood, which comes from the same tree that yields allspice berries. It traditionally features bone-in, skin-on chicken cuts, as they impart the richest and deepest flavors.

Contrary to popular belief, these fattier cuts of meat, such as legs, thighs, and wings, are not only delicious but also highly nutritious. They are rich in fat-soluble vitamins, more nutrient-dense than lean chicken breast, and arguably more flavorful.

Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Advertisement:

Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This grilled Jamaican jerk chicken recipe calls for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks, although full legs can also be used.

Ingredients

  • 8 pieces of skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks (about 2.5lbs)
  • 1 small onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 scallions, ends removed and roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1–2 scotch bonnets or habanero peppers*, stems and seeds removed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Olive oil, for greasing the grill
  • Scallions and limes for serving

Instructions

  • In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients (excluding the chicken) and blend until a thick marinade forms.
  • Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl or plastic bag, cover them with the marinade, and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, preferably overnight. (The longer the marination, the more intense the flavors.)
  • When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the fridge at least 30 minutes before grilling to allow it to come to room temperature, ensuring even cooking.
  • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, and lightly grease it with oil to prevent sticking.
  • Place the chicken, skin-side down, on the grill over medium heat and cook for 25 to 35 minutes, turning frequently, until fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F).
  • Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Serve the chicken with scallions and extra lime wedges.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*Scotch bonnet peppers are extremely hot, so handle them with care and remember to wash your hands after handling them.

Advertisement:

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 304 calories
  • Sugar: 2 grams
  • Fat: 21 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 6 grams
  • Fiber: 1 gram
  • Protein: 25 grams

 

Advertisement:

Thanks for your SHARES!

Advertisement:

You May Also Like

Add a comment

Latest posts

added sugars antioxidants Beet recipes beet storage coleslaw copper Digestive Health Feta cheese flavonoids folate fresh beets hard-boiled eggs health benefits heart disease heart health high blood pressure immune function kidney stones manganese nitrates nutrients Pickled beets pickled beets ingredients pickled beets instructions pickled beets recipe polyphenols probiotics recipe ideas salads Salt side dishes store-bought pickled beets type 2 diabetes

Pickled Beets Recipe and Health Benefits

Jamie Oliver’s Creamy Mediterranean Vanilla Cheesecake: A Dreamy, Impressive Dessert That’s Dead Easy to Make

baking with honey basic roll cake delicious dessert recipe easy baking recipe homemade cake recipe honey Swiss roll moist Swiss roll soft sheet cake Swiss roll cake

Delicious Homemade Swiss Roll Cake Recipe with Honey – Easy and Moist!

Appetizer Awesome Blossom Dipping Sauce Crispy Onion Rings Dipping sauce Homemade Appetizers Homemade Onion Rings Make-Ahead Onion Rings. Onion Ring Recipe Onion Ring Serving Ideas restaurant-style side dish

Crispy Onion Rings with Dipping Sauce

butternut squash soup Common Questions. cutting butternut squash easy variations fall recipes ingredients make-ahead Perfect roasted butternut squash roasted vegetables roasting method selecting and storing butternut squash simple roasted butternut squash recipe tips Tutorial ways to serve

Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

Active Dry Yeast Bread Flour Cloverleaf Rolls Dinner Rolls holiday make-ahead Milk Bread Recipe tips

The Softest Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls

Balsamic Vinegar Basil Burrata Cheese Caprese Salad Heirloom Tomatoes olive oil Recipe Summer Salad Tomato Burrata Salad

Tomato Burrata Salad Recipe

5-Seed Bread Artisan Bread Bread Flour Bread Making Bread Recipe Crusty Loaf Dutch Oven Baking Dutch Oven Bread easy baking Homemade Bread No-Knead Bread Sandwich Recipes Toasted Seeds

Easy Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

baking soda buttermilk Common Questions. easy recipe freezing holiday favorite. Irish Soda Bread no kneading quick bread raisins recipe instructions tips

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Appetizer Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Bagels Crackers Creamy Crostini Easy Holidays Homemade make-ahead olives party Pita chips pretzels Recipe Roasted Peppers Salami serving ideas storage tips Tortilla Chips Valentina’s Corner Vegetables

Easy Classic Cheese Ball Recipe