Jamaican Jerk Chicken
After we thank our Jamaican friends for Bob Marley, we should also thank them for this Jerk seasoning recipe which is the absolute king of marinades.
For 10 assorted bone-in chicken pieces.
Marinade Ingredients
- 1 entire bunch of scallions(cebollino in Costa Rican) chopped to facilitate processing.
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 shot of dark rum
- 1/3 cup of lime juice
- 10 crushed or 1 tablespoon of allspice berries (called Jamaica in Costa Rica)*
- 1 inch cube of ginger
- 2 whole habanero peppers or to taste. Fiery habaneros or scotch bonnet peppers are recommended, but they can be lessened or eliminated if your guests have low heat tolerance.
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup oil (I like to use coconut, but any other is fine)
- Salt and black pepper
*I like to dry fry the allspice berries for a few minutes to release the fragrance and then pound them with a mortar and pestle. The powdered kind is significantly weaker.
Directions
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a food processor.
- Marinade the chicken pieces in the refrigerator for at least four hours or overnight.
- Set the grill to a low temperature to avoid burning.
- Grill the chicken pieces, turning frequently, for 45 minutes and then finish in a 350 oven for 30 minutes ensuring that all pieces are done. Juices should run clear when a toothpick is inserted into the thickest part.
This marinade works well with pork chops too. Great served with rice and beans.
Contact Chef Desiree at [email protected].