Name: Jerk chicken
Prep time: 15 minutes + 6 hours to marinate
Cook time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 spring onions, chopped; 2 Scotch Bonnet chillies, finely chopped; 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper; half tsp cinnamon; half tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp ground allspice; 2 tsp dark brown sugar; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 3 cm fresh ginger root, grated; 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried thyme; 1 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce *; grated zest and juice 1 lime; juice 1 orange; 1 tbsp wine vinegar; 4 chicken drumsticks and 4 chicken thighs (1 kilo), excess skin trimmed

A classic Jamaican dish that’s popular across the Caribbean. Jerk refers to the spicy seasoning the chicken is marinated in. Can be cooked in the oven or on the barbecue.

Serves

Prep

15 minutes + 6 hours to marinate

Cook

25 minutes

Nutrition information

Each 219g serving contains (excludes serving suggestion)

KCal: 272
Carbs: 6.9g
Fibre: 1.3g
Protein: 30.7g
Fat: 13.2g
(Medium)
Saturates: 3.8g
(Medium)
Sugars: 5.8g
(Low)
Salt: 0.67g
(Medium)
Fruit/Veg Portion: 0

What makes a healthy, balanced diet?

Ingredients

4 spring onions, chopped
2 Scotch Bonnet chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
half tsp cinnamon
half tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground allspice
2 tsp dark brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 cm fresh ginger root, grated
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce *
grated zest and juice 1 lime
juice 1 orange
1 tbsp wine vinegar
4 chicken drumsticks and 4 chicken thighs (1 kilo), excess skin trimmed

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Method

Step 1

To make the jerk seasoning, add everything except the chicken to a blender and blend to a paste. Or use a stick blender or pestle and mortar.

Step 2

Prick the chicken with a sharp knife and add to a food bag with the jerk seasoning. Leave for at least six hours or overnight, if possible.

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 190°C/gas 5. Spread the marinated chicken out onto a baking tray and bake for 25 minutes, until crisp and golden and starting to char on the edges.

Step 4

Alternatively, if barbecuing cover in foil and cook in the oven for 20 minutes. Then switch to the barbecue for another 10 minutes.

Recipe tips

*The recipe contains soy sauce which may contain gluten. If following a gluten-free diet please check the label for a gluten-free version.
Try serving with rice and peas and plenty of salad.
You could use this marinade on pork, fish fillets, large prawns or cubes of tofu.
You can add the chicken and jerk seasoning to a food bag, mix well and freeze it ready for future use.
Freezing instructions: Suitable for freezing once cooked. Defrost in the fridge and reheat until piping hot throughout.