Jerk Chicken Recipe [Video] (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret in jerk chicken? ›

It's wonderfully spicy, smoky, and fragrant — everything you want jerk chicken to be. But what puts this one above all others? The key is including five-spice powder in the marinade, a Chinese spice blend made of cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise.

With adding authentic jerk flavoring, neither dry rub nor wet marinade is really better than the other. Both types deserve a place in your pantry. For vegetables and other dishes where you want just a hint of spice, sprinkle on a little Booyah dry Jamaican seasoning.

The four key ingredients in jerk cooking are Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice berries, scallions and thyme. Scotch bonnet peppers are a variety of the habañero pepper. To capture true jerk flavor, use imported Jamaican Scotch bonnet.

If you're not a fan of the heat or kids are going to be eating this jerk spice blend, then you can make it less spicy. Just remove the cayenne and hot pepper flakes for a milder flavor.

The Real Deal: How Jerk Chicken Is Traditionally Prepared

Next, long, thick sticks of fresh pimento wood—that's the wood of the tree that produces allspice berries—are soaked and placed in a parallel array above a charcoal fire.

Jerk chicken is believed to have been conceived when the Maroons introduced African meat cooking techniques to Jamaica which were combined with native Jamaican ingredients and seasonings used by the Arawak Indians.

Jerk Pork: Pork is a delicious and versatile meat that works well with the bold flavors of jerk seasoning. Pork can be roasted, grilled, or barbecued for a delicious, smoky flavor. Jerk Lamb: Lamb is another popular choice for jerk cooking.

We recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes, and up to 24 hours.

Wet v dry: there's the rub

An article on jerk published in the New York Times explains, somewhat unappetisingly, that the dry rub makes for “a crustier jerk; a wet rub produces juicier meat”.

Is Jerk Chicken healthy? Yes, this spice-rich dish is loaded with nutrients and vitamins from the natural and whole ingredients used in its marinade.

Why is my jerk chicken dry? ›

Jerk Chicken isn't dry, it is a succulent, highly flavorful meat when done right. If it is dry, this means it has been overcooked. Your Jerk should be a perfect balance between dry and moist, not too much of one or the other.

The marinade contains sugars, allspice, cinnamon and those ingredients definitely lend to the dark colour. Believe me, it's delicious! Using your food processor, combine all the ingredients of the jerk marinade and pulse until you have a smooth, dark brown thick liquid.

Peppers. Scotch bonnets are authentic to Jerk Chicken. And they're available a lot on the East Coast but in California they're nearly impossible to find. So you can use habaneros in place of them.

Jerk seasoning is a dry blend of spices used to rub onto meats before cooking, while jerk sauce is a liquid condiment used for basting, glazing, and adding flavour to dishes during or after cooking.

Ingredients In Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Spices – Cumin, nutmeg, allspice, smoked paprika, cinnamon. Heat – Red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper. Sugar – Just some brown sugar for a well rounded depth of flavor. Seasoning – Salt and pepper.

How long should I marinate jerk chicken? We recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes, and up to 24 hours. Marinating not only imparts amazing flavor but also helps to tenderize the meat. Longer isn't necessarily better, but ideally, several hours will allow the flavors to really sink in.

A: The jerk seasoning is a thick paste that you rub in and is best to leave on for a day or more before cooking. Use sparingly! Gives wonderful flavor throughout. The marinade, which I haven't tried yet, is thinner and you can cook right away.

The meat is normally chicken or pork, and the main ingredients of the spicy jerk marinade sauce are allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. Jerk cooking is popular in Caribbean and West Indian diaspora communities throughout North America, Canada and the United Kingdom.