One of Jamaica’s most famous dishes. Jerk chicken is marinated in a spicy mix of scotch bonnet peppers, allspice seasonings, thyme, garlic, ginger, and other seasonings before being slow-cooked over pimento wood. The result is a flavourful, smoky, and spicy chicken.
Street vendors, local restaurants, and jerk chicken shacks are the best spots for authentic jerk chicken. In Montego Bay-Mobay for short, jerk chicken is a staple after a party, before going home. You can find the best spots after a party on the hip strip across from the now closed Aquasol and Sam Sharpe Square where the egg carts are (men who sell gourmet styled egg sandwishes.)
A Little About Jerk Pork
Similar to jerk chicken, jerk pork is made from pork marinated with the same jerk seasoning and cooked over an open flame. It’s tender, smoky, and spicy with a satisfying crunch on the outside, especially where the skin is. Try it at a local jerk center like Scotchies or The Pork Pit in Montego Bay.
Ingredients:
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1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
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2 tbsp brown sugar
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1/4 cup soy sauce
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2 tbsp olive oil (fancy) / coconut oil or vegetable oil will suffice
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2 tbsp white vinegar
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2 tbsp thyme (fresh or dried)
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1 tbsp ginger, minced
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1 tbsp garlic, minced
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2 tbsp allspice (pimento)
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1-2 scotch bonnet peppers, seeds removed and chopped (use gloves! If you can’t manage the heat.)
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1 large onion, chopped
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2 tsp salt
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1 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
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In a blender or food processor, combine soy sauce, olive oil, vinegar, thyme, ginger, garlic, allspice, scotch bonnet peppers, onion, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Blend until smooth.
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Pour the marinade over the chicken, coating all pieces thoroughly. Marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight for better flavour.
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Preheat your grill or smoker. Cook the chicken over medium heat, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (about 30-40 minutes). You can use the fork to break up the meat so that the flavours can seep in more quickly and evenly.
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Serve with rice and peas or festival or bammy or white hard dough bread. along with ketchup and jerk sauce (spicy.)