Recipes

Caribbean Jerk Chicken

Name: Caribbean Jerk Chicken
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 8 scallions, chopped; 4 large garlic cloves, chopped; 3 Scotch bonnet chiles, chopped; 1 small onion, chopped; 1/4 cup dark brown sugar; 2 tablespoons chopped thyme; 2 tablespoons ground allspice; Salt; 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 cup white vinegar; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup fresh lime juice; 1/4 cup fresh orange juice; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; Three 4-pound chickens, each cut into 8 pieces; Freshly ground pepper

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The spirit of Jamaica's popular jerk sauce comes through in this superspicy, fragrant grilled chicken. To punch up the flavor even more, let the marinade sit for an additional 24 hours before adding the meat. To lower the heat, swap out Scotch bonnet chiles (among the world's hottest) for jalapeños. More Grilled Chicken Recipes

By

Laurent Tourondel

Updated on June 20, 2019

Caribbean Jerk Chicken — Photo: © John Kernick

Total Time:

1 hrs

Yield:

10

Ingredients

8 scallions, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
3 Scotch bonnet chiles, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons chopped thyme
2 tablespoons ground allspice
Salt
1 1/4 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Three 4-pound chickens, each cut into 8 pieces
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients except the chicken and process to a paste. Put the chicken pieces in a very large bowl and pour the marinade on top. Toss to coat the chicken thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Light a grill. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, leaving on a coating of spice paste. Grill the chicken over moderately high heat, turning often, until the skin is nicely charred and the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve.

Make Ahead

The jerk marinade can be refrigerated overnight.

Suggested Pairing

Some jerk chicken is so fiery that it will wipe out any wine; Tourondel's is more subtle than that. Nevertheless, it's still intensely spicy, so it goes best with a fruity, not terribly tannic red that won't accentuate its heat. Zinfandel is a good choice: such as one from Sonoma County or the Russian River Valley.