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–+ servings
Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken

A Taste of Jamaica: Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken - A Recipe by Executive Chef Dwight Morris

Course Main Courses
Cuisine Jamaican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 enough sauce for two chickens
Calories 442
Author Chef Dwight Morris (shared with his permission)
The most authentic Jamaican jerk chicken recipe you'll find without traveling to Jamaica.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (cut up into pieces, preferably organic)

JERK BASE:

  • 1 Tbsp ground thyme (or 2 Tbsp thyme leaves)
  • 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (or 2, Habanero if you cannot source Scotch bonnet, but it won't be authentic BOTH ARE EXTREMELY HOT!)
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 bunch green onions (6-12)
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt (or sea salt to go)
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger (minced)
  • 2 tsp allspice
  • 6 cloves garlic (to 8)

JERK SAUCE:

  • 2 Tbsp Jerk paste (above recipe)
  • ⅔ cup pineapple juice
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • 6 oz Red Stripe beer (you can find it at BevMo!)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Directions for Jerk Base:

  • Place all ingredients for base in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
  • Use to marinate chicken for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight, before cooking on the barbecue.
  • Grill on the barbecue until fully cooked.

Directions for Jerk Sauce:

  • Add all ingredients listed for the Jerk sauce to a pan over low heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour, stirring often. Add more juice or beer to thin the sauce, alternatively, simmer longer for a thicker sauce.
  • Spoon this sauce over the cooked jerk chicken, serving extra for those who want a little more.

Notes

  • In order to be authentic Jamaican, Scotch bonnet peppers have to be used.

Nutrition

Serving: 8 | Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 862mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3mg
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