Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe: Taking You Straight to the Caribbean
We thought we’d round out Around the World Week here with a little taste bud trip to the tropics — Jamaica, mon! Courtesy of the Caribbean Shopping Channel (special thanks for the time-saving tips!), this Jamaican jerk chicken recipe not only packs some awesome flavor while still being healthy, but it’s also a pretty simple dish to make. So a culinary trip to the Caribbean? Coming right up!
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken:
4 chicken leg quarters, skin removed
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 habanero pepper, diced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
For the mango salad:
2 mangoes, cubed
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
½ red onion, diced
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 avocados, cubed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small handful of chopped cilantro
Directions
For the chicken:
1. Cut legs at the joints.
2. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the remaining ingredients. (Time-saving tip: want to scrap buying and prepping all of the spices? Here is a bottle of yummy jerk chicken seasoning. It’s delicious AND authentic: Busha Browne’s Jerk Seasoning.)
3. Add chicken to bag. Seal bag and shake to coat chicken. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
4. Drain and discard marinade.
5. Lightly coat grill rack with oil. (Don’t have a grill? Grilling is one of the healthiest ways to cook chicken. You don’t need a hefty gas grill to do the job; check out this portable, cost effective charcoal gas grill: Cusinart 14” Grill.) Grill chicken, covered, on medium heat for 40 minutes or until thermometer reads 180 degrees, turning over every 10 to 15 minutes.
For the mango salad:
1. In a large serving bowl, whisk vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper to taste. Slowly mix in oil. Toss in mangoes, avocados, onion and cilantro.
2. Serve on top of cool chicken, or as a side dish.
Ahhh, Jamaican jerk chicken … it so takes me back to my trip to Jamaica — love it! Do you have any dishes that transport you to a different time or place? Or make you feel like you’re on vacay? —Jenn