Jamaican Spiced Turkey Food

JAMAICAN JERK SEASONING

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients.
• Store leftovers in a tightly closed glass jar.
• It will keep its strength for over a month.
• 1- 1 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning for each pound of meat.

HOMEMADE JAMAICAN JERK SEASONING RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix together all the spices in a small bowl.
• Transfer to an airtight container.

JAMAICAN-SPICED TURKEY

Steps:

• Brine the turkey: Combine all the brine ingredients except the turkey in a large stock pot and add 1 gallon water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and stir in another 1/2 gallon water; let cool to room temperature. Place turkey breast-side-down in a container large enough to hold it and the brine. Add brine and refrigerate 8 to 12 hours. Remove from refrigerator about an hour before cooking and bring to room temperature.
• Make the herb butter: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 9 to 12 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning, until butter darkens to deep amber. Add thyme and scallions and remove from heat. (Butter may foam up; stir to keep it from foaming over.) Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain into a bowl, pressing out all the butter with a spatula. Allow butter to cool so it firms up, but is still a little soft and pliable. Stir butter while it cools to re-incorporate any bits that fall to the bottom.
• Make the spice rub: Combine all the rub ingredients in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Toast, stirring or shaking the pan occasionally, 2 to 4 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Let cool, then grind finely in a spice grinder or mortar.
• Roast the turkey: Heat oven to 475 degrees. Line a large roasting pan with the scallions, onions, celery, fennel, garlic and carrots and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour in stock.
• Remove turkey from brine and pat dry. Season cavity with about 1/2 tablespoon of the spice rub. Gently loosen the breast skin with your fingers as far down as you can go, being careful not to tear the skin. Spread almost all of the herb butter under the skin and smooth it out as evenly as possible by rubbing the skin. Rub remaining butter lightly over the rest of the turkey. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of the spice rub all over turkey.
• Place turkey in pan on top of vegetables. Tuck the wings under turkey, and tie legs together with kitchen twine.
• Roast turkey for 30 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees and loosely cover with foil. Cook turkey, basting with the liquid in the pan every 45 minutes, until the leg feels loose in the socket and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees. Start checking the temperature after about 2 hours. Depending on the size of your turkey, it may take up to 4 hours to cook through. Let sit 20 to 25 minutes before carving.

JAMAICAN STUFFING

Steps:

• Melt 75g of the butter in a frying pan over a low heat. Add the onions and fry for 6 mins until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 mins, then add the tomatoes, pepper, thyme and chilli (in one piece), and cook for a further 6-8 mins until softened. Season to taste. Stir through the remaining 25g butter and allow to melt.
• Stir in the breadcrumbs, making sure all the ingredients are fully combined, then mix in the ketchup. Leave to cool. Will keep chilled for up to 24 hrs. Remove the chilli, then use the stuffing to fill the cavity of a turkey or chicken, and roast following pack instructions.
• Alternatively, tip the stuffing into a roasting tray. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cook for 20-25 mins to serve with turkey, chicken, or a vegetarian main.

JAMAICAN JERK BRINE FOR CHICKEN, PORK ....

Steps:

• Dissolve salt and sugar in hot water add remaining ingredients and 2 cups of ice cubes to cool it. Place a 4 pound cleaned and dried chicken in a freezer zip lock bag pour brine over chicken and top with water to cover. Close bag trying to remove as much air as possible. Brine in refrigerator overnight 8-12 hours. If not ready to cook remove from brine rinse well and place back in the refrigerator till ready to cook.
• Proceed with cooking method you desire.
• Roast, Grill, Rotisserie cooking to internal temperature of 175.
• Let rest 10-15 minutes before carving.