Jamaican jerk is an aromatic blend of spices, herbs, garlic and hot peppers formed into a thick marinade. The Jamaican jerk marinade is traditionally used on chicken or pork, but can be used to marinate almost anything from fish to tofu.
Jerk is one of the most identifiable foods from the Caribbean, an incredibly spicy seasoning rubbed on all types of meat before grilling. The process of grilling, in which skewers of meat are jerked and turned quickly, is where the seasoning is thought to get its name.
The warm spices used in jerk, like cinnamon and allspice, are commonly used in North America in the fall and winter months especially during the holiday season. The spices give this Jamaican marinade a delightful warmth that makes the baked chicken casserole a perfect cold-night meal. And, since it can be prepared in one dish, it makes for an easy dinner as well.
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Mix Recipe
Yields 1/2 cup jerk marinade
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup ground allspice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 6 green onions
- 2-3 jalapenos or scotch bonnet peppers
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Directions:
- Roughly chop ginger, garlic, green onions, and jalapenos. For the jalapenos, remove seeds to reduce level of spice to suit personal taste.
- Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender, blend until fully pureed into a thick sauce.
The Jamaican jerk seasoning will yield about 1/2 cup which can season 8-12 pieces of chicken. Remember to adjust the heat of this dish to suite personal taste, beginning with only a small bit of the jalapeno seeds at first and then increasing to reach the right level of spiciness. The jerk marinade can be stored in the refrigerator until needed.
Jamaican Jerk Baked Chicken Casserole Recipe
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 4 pieces chicken (legs and thighs work well)
- 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning mix
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 3 cups sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven temperature to 400F (200C)
- In a medium casserole, add pineapple and sweet potato. Toss with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and arrange in an even layer.
- Mix chicken pieces with 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning until chicken is covered thoroughly. If possible, allow the chicken to marinate overnight for more flavor.
- Place chicken pieces in the casserole dish on top of the pineapple and sweet potato layer.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes or until chicken tests done and sweet potatoes are tender.
- Serve over steamed rice.
Easy One-Dish Dinner with Chicken Marinade Recipe
Save time by preparing the Jamaican jerk marinade and storing in the refrigerator. The chicken can be placed in the marinade the night before and then baked on the night it is needed. The longer the chicken sits in the marinade, the more flavor it will have - marinating for 4-12 hours is suggested.
For an exciting and delicious cold weather meal, Jamaican jerk will give warmth and flavor when used in a baked chicken casserole. Since the Jamaican jerk seasoning mix makes enough for several meals, try using it on other cuts of meat or types of seafood. And, when the winter weather is finally through, use the marinade when grilling meats outdoors.
Allen Williams - Allen Williams is a freelance writer with varied interests ranging from information architecture to reality TV and cooking. He considers ...
