Jerk Style Chicken Food

JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• At least 1 day before cooking, pat chicken dry with paper towels. Combine remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor and grind to a coarse paste. Slather all over chicken, including under skin. Refrigerate 12 to 36 hours. Bring to room temperature before cooking and lightly sprinkle with more salt and ground allspice.
• Prepare a charcoal grill: Clean and oil grates, and preheat to medium heat using one chimney of charcoal. The temperature can start as high as 300 degrees and go as low as 250. For best results, coals should be at least 12 inches away from chicken. If necessary, push coals to one side of grill to create indirect heat. Add two large handfuls of soaked pimento (allspice) wood sticks and chips (see note) or other aromatic wood chips to coals, then close grill. When thick white smoke billows from grill, place chicken on grate, skin side up, and cover. Let cook undisturbed for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Uncover grill. Chicken will be golden and mahogany in places. Chicken thighs may already be cooked through. For other cuts, turn chicken over and add more wood chips, and charcoal if needed. Cover and continue cooking, checking and turning every 10 minutes. Jerk chicken is done when skin is burnished brown and chicken juices are completely clear, with no pink near the bone. For large pieces, this can take up to an hour. Serve hot or warm, with rice and beans.

JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the jerk marinade: Put the vinegar, rum, hot peppers, onion, green onion tops, thyme, olive oil, salt, pepper, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and molasses into a blender. Pulse until mostly smooth.
• Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a large freezer bag, or in a large non-reactive bowl or baking dish. Pour lime juice over the chicken and coat well. Rub the jerk paste over the chicken pieces and coat well (it helps to use gloves!). Seal the bag or cover the chicken in the pan with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
• Cook the chicken, simmer marinade: When you are ready to cook the chicken, remove chicken from the marinade bag or pan. Put the remaining marinade into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to use as a basting sauce for the chicken. If you want you can reserve a little of the marinade (once boiled for 10 minutes since it has been in contact with raw chicken) to serve with the chicken or to mix with some ketchup and a dash of soy sauce for a serving sauce. Grilling Method Preheat grill to medium high. Sprinkle chicken halves with salt and pepper. Place chicken halves, skin side down on the grill grates. Cover. Cook for about 40-50 minutes, keeping the internal grill temperature between 350°F and 400°F, turning the chickens occasionally and basting with marinade, until the chicken halves are cooked through. The chicken is done when the juices run clear (not pink) when a knife tip is inserted into both the chicken breast and thigh, about 165°F for the breast and 170°F for the thigh when checked with a meat thermometer . Transfer chicken to platter. Tent loosely with foil to keep warm and let stand 15 minutes. Oven Method Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken halves in a rimmed baking pan, skin side up. Roast until chicken halves are cooked through, about 40-50 minutes. The chicken is done when the juices run clear (not pink) when a knife tip is inserted into both the chicken breast and thigh, or a meat thermometer reads about 165°F for the breast and 170°F for the thigh. Transfer chicken to platter. Tent loosely with foil to keep warm and let stand 15 minutes. Cut chicken into pieces. Serve with black beans and rice .

JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a medium bowl. Cover with lime juice and water. Set aside.
• In a blender or food processor, place allspice, nutmeg, salt, brown sugar, thyme, ginger, black pepper and vegetable oil. Blend well, then mix in onions, green onions, garlic and habanero peppers until almost smooth.
• Pour most of the blended marinade mixture into bowl with chicken, reserving a small amount to use as a basting sauce while cooking. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.
• Brush grill grate with oil. Cook chicken slowly on the preheated grill. Turn frequently, basting often with remaining marinade mixture. Cook to desired doneness.

JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the brine: Add the salt, sugar, allspice, chile, garlic, ginger and 1 quart water to a large pot and stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat, bring to a boil and cook until the salt and sugar have dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the brine over the ice in a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Add the chicken to the brine, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• For the jerk paste marinade: Stir together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tamarind paste, scallions, thyme, minced garlic, minced ginger, allspice, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves and chiles in a medium bowl. Reserve 5 tablespoons for the Jerk BBQ Sauce and set aside.
• Remove the chicken from the brine; discard the brine. Pat the chicken dry, then toss to coat with the jerk paste marinade, slightly massaging it into the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• For the jerk BBQ sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add the onions, garlic, ginger and the reserved 5 tablespoons of Jerk Paste Marinade and simmer until the onions are translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the ketchup and brown sugar and summer over low heat until the sauce is deep red and caramelized, about 30 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth and set aside.
• To cook the chicken: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Heat a well-seasoned cast-iron grill pan over medium heat until very hot, about 10 minutes, then add some oil to the pan. Working in batches, remove the chicken from marinade (reserve the marinade), place the chicken on the grill pan skin-side down and cook until well charred, flipping them halfway through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the reserved marinade. Continue with the remaining chicken. Transfer the baking sheet the oven and cook until the chicken is tender but not falling off the bone, about 45 minutes. Turn the broiler on for the last minutes and broil until the skin crisps.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, brush it with some of the Jerk BBQ Sauce and let it rest 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with the remaining Jerk BBQ Sauce on the side.

THE ULTIMATE JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Begin by making the jerk marinade. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a blender and process until you have a smooth puree.
• Add chicken pieces into a large resealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Put the bag into a baking dish and let marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
• Preheat grill to high.
• Prepare a table-top smoker or take a roasting tray, line it with foil and add some soaked wood chips to the bottom. Place a wire rack over the top, upside down, and lay chicken pieces over the chips on the rack. Cover with foil and grill over high heat. Smoke for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Transfer the chicken pieces to a baking sheet and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Bake in the oven "low and slow" until chicken is tender, about 1 hour. Remove the chicken from the baking sheet to a serving platter and garnish with limes and parsley before serving.

CAYMANIAN-STYLE JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a food processor, place the seasoning and Scotch bonnet peppers, garlic and scallions and process until chunky. Add the ground allspice, brown sugar, thyme, allspice berries, cinnamon and nutmeg, then process. Add the juice, olive oil, soy sauce, black pepper and 1 tablespoon salt and process until a thick paste is formed, clingy enough to stick to the back of a spoon. (If it's too thick, thin with more soy sauce.)
• Scrape half of the paste into a large shallow dish with a lid. Add the chicken and top with the remaining paste. Spread the paste, making sure each piece of chicken gets a little attention. Cover and marinate in the fridge overnight, up to 24 hours.
• Prepare the grill with one hot and one unheated side. This works best on a charcoal grill or a gas grill with one burner turned off.
• Oil the grill grates liberally with the vegetable oil. Place the chicken skin-side up on the cool side of the grill and close the lid.
• Grill, rotating the pieces every 10 minutes to ensure even exposure to the hot side of the grill, until the breasts register 165 degrees F and the thighs register 170 degrees F, 40 to 45 minutes for the breasts and 30 to 35 minutes for the thighs. Move the chicken to the hot side of the grill, flip it skin-side down, and grill until the skin is charred and crispy, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Serve immediately with some good ol' white bread (or classic hard dough bread, if you can find it!) from the bag and ketchup to dunk it.

JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whizz all the ingredients for the marinade in a blender to form a thick paste. It shouldn't be too runny, similar to the consistency of sweet chilli sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three weeks.
• Slit the chicken skin with a sharp knife, then put into a container. Pour over the jerk marinade, making sure the chicken is completely covered. You may not need all the marinade. Cover the chicken and place in the fridge for at least 4 hrs, but ideally 24 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the chicken in an ovenproof dish, cover with foil and cook for 30-45 mins. Remove the foil and baste the chicken with the juices from the dish, then cook for a further 10 mins. The skin should start to crisp up. Check the meat is cooked by cutting into the deepest part of the chicken. If the juices run out red, return to the oven for 10 mins more, or until the juices run clear. Serve with rice & peas or any of your favourite side dishes.

GRILLED JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make marinade:
• Blend all marinade ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Marinate and grill chicken:
• Divide chicken pieces and marinade between 2 sealable plastic bags. Seal bags, pressing out excess air, then turn bags over several times to distribute marinade. Put bags of chicken in a shallow pan and marinate, chilled, turning once or twice, 1 day.
• Let chicken stand at room temperature 1 hour before cooking.
• To cook chicken using a charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a large chimney of charcoal briquettes (about 100) and pour them evenly over 1 side of bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of charcoal).
• When charcoal turns grayish white and you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear chicken in batches on lightly oiled rack over coals until well browned on all sides, about 3 minutes per batch. Move chicken as seared to side of grill with no coals underneath, then cook, covered with lid, until cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes more.
• To cook chicken using a gas grill:
• Preheat burners on high, then adjust heat to moderate. Cook chicken until well browned on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Adjust heat to low and cook chicken, covered with lid, until cooked through, about 25 minutes more.
• Serve chicken with salsa.

JERK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. With a stick blender or in the small bowl of a food processor, whizz together the jerk seasoning, coconut cream, chilli, spring onions, thyme, garlic and ginger. Stir in the lime zest and juice, and season to taste.
• Slash the chicken thighs down to the bone a couple of times, then smear over the jerk paste. Roast in the oven for 45-50 mins until golden brown and cooked through. Sprinkle over more thyme and serve with rice & peas.