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Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk 

Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk Chicken

There is a magic in an old recipe. In a method of preparing food with an origin that’s hard to trace. Jerk meat has been a staple in Jamaica for centuries, but follow the history through a labyrinth of poorly kept records and unsettling invasions of outsiders, it’s hard to get a clear view of how it all began.

It doesn’t matter, it hasn’t changed much between the generations of hands that have cooked it. Traditional jerk is cooked over direct flames, not just from coals but also fresh, green wood. Fire is an important component in the dish. The heat, the smoke, the crisp blackened skin. The result is an addictive plate of chicken that’s smokey, sweet, spicy, and juicy.

The idea to add beer isn’t mine, as much as I’d like to claim it. Years ago I read the book, Blood, Bones and Butter, by Gabrielle Hamilton. I’d been to her restaurant in New York, Prune, and became a bit fascinated with her. Just a few lines in one chapter about her favorite jerk recipes, no more explanation than it had 25 ingredients including Scotch bonnet peppers, stout beer, and honey, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I’ve spent years adjusting this recipe trying to get to that perfect balance of flavors. One thing is for sure, the smoke and heat of the grill is a must, it just isn’t the same made in the oven.

Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk Chicken -2

Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 12 hours 38 minutes
Servings 4 -6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup stout or porter beer coffee or coconut stouts and porters work well
  • 3 Scotch Bonnet or Habanero Peppers
  • 6 cloves of garlic peeled
  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoon chopped scallions green and white parts
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh ginger grated with a microplane
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese 5 Spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher or Sea salt
  • 3 lbs chicken wings legs, thighs (bone in, skin on)

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients (except the chicken) to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
  • Add the chicken to a resalable gallon sized plastic bag (use two if necessary), pour the sauce over the chicken. Close the bag, removing as much air as possible. Refrigerate over night and up to two days, turning once or twice during marinating.
  • Preheat grill to medium high.
  • Grill the chicken, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Move to upper rack of the grill to finish cooking once the exterior is as dark as you prefer it.

Grilled Stout Jamaican Jerk Chicken -4

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Comments


[email protected] June 17, 2015 um 3:10 pm

I love jerk! I just made jerk veggie burgers this week and they were so good so I know I’d love this. I have to try it soon!

Reply

Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary June 18, 2015 um 5:23 am

I love jerk anything.. well, except when it comes to people! 😉 Your stout jerk chicken looks mouth watering delicious! A must try, for sure! Thanks for sharing ♡

Reply

Jared June 19, 2015 um 11:51 am

So I was told by an owner of a Jamaican restaurant that originally they would only make jerk pork, or wasn’t till later when some people decided to eat a little healthier that they started making jerk chicken, any validity to that? In any case I will give this a try. Thanks.

Reply

Jackie June 20, 2015 um 12:36 pm

I read that the first meat made with the jerk method was actually goat. Then pork was popular, then chicken. I don’t think it was as much health focuses as it was about availability and cost of the meat. But the origins are hard to trace. It’s mostly speculation

Reply

Doug June 22, 2015 um 12:03 am

There is the best jerk chicken. I’ve never made any of your recipes that weren’t outstanding, you are talented.

Reply

Kelly T. June 22, 2015 um 10:32 am

This is so good! I made it with boneless thighs and it was amazing. Thank you for the recipe!

Reply

Amber M September 20, 2015 um 1:25 pm

I was a little worried about making this since I don’t have a grill. I preheated a cast iron skillet in the oven at 350 and while it was heating up I blackened the skin on a cast iron grill pan on the stove. Transferred the chicken to the pan in the oven and finished cooking for about 40 minutes. The skin got nice and black and stayed crispy and it turned out nice and moist. Really liked the flavors on this and look forward to making it again on a real grill!

Reply

Eliel June 8, 2017 um 4:38 pm

Do you leave the seeds in from the peppers?

Reply

Jackie June 9, 2017 um 8:12 am

I do, but you can remove them if you’d like.

Reply

Tina July 31, 2019 um 4:40 pm

This was in the NY Times recently, you may like to have a look
I’m still going to try yours, thanks for the recipe!

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020376-jerk-chicken-with-pickled-bananas

Reply

Jackie August 2, 2019 um 10:32 am

That’s a very different jerk recipe from mine, but it also looks great!

Reply

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