Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Ingredients

• 3.5 lb chicken (mix of thighs and drums)
• 4 scallions (green part only)
• 1 onion (medium)
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 Scotch bonnet peppers (or habanero)
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tbsp whole allspice berries
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger (grated)
• 0.5 tsp whole cloves
• 0.25 tsp nutmeg (freshly grated)
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 lime juice (Juice of 1 lime)
• 2 tbsp neutral oil
• 1 tbsp browning sauce
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Steps

1. 1

   Lightly toast the black peppercorns, allspice berries, and cloves in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant.

2. 2

   Grate the nutmeg and grind the toasted spices in a mortar until finely crushed.

3. 3

   Add all jerk paste ingredients (scallions, onion, garlic, peppers, thyme, ginger, cinnamon, salt, sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, oil, browning sauce, vinegar), including the ground spices, into a food processor.

4. 4

   Blend until smooth, adding a little extra oil if needed to reach a paste consistency.

5. 5

   Wash and pat the chicken completely dry.

6. 6

   Add the jerk paste to the chicken and mix well to fully coat. Rub the marinade under the skin as well for deeper flavor.

7. 7

   Marinate for 24 hours for maximum flavor, or 4–6 hours minimum in the refrigerator.

8. 8

   Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C (fan).

9. 9

   Place marinated chicken on a rack set over a baking tray.

10. 10

    Bake at 350°F / 180°C for about 55–60 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking.

11. 11

    In the last 5-10 minutes of the total cook time, switch to broil/grill mode to finish.

12. 12

    Let the chicken develop deep charred, caramelized edges. Watch closely to prevent burning.

13. 13

    Rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.

Notes

If you have access to an outdoor grill, definitely grill instead of oven for the most authentic flavor. For the best results, marinate for the full 24 hours.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• chicken
• Jamaican
• jerk chicken
• baked
• spicy
• dinner