Juicy and Luscious Jerk Chicken
Welcome to Cook and Share: A Delicious Jerk Chicken Recipe
Hey guys, how you doing? Dave here, and welcome back to Cook and Share! As all of you know, I love cooking chicken, and today I'm excited to share with you a recipe for jerk chicken that I had the pleasure of trying at a restaurant once. It was so good that I thought, "Hmm, I wonder if I can reproduce this?" And, guess what? I did, and it turned out awesome! So, let's get started and walk through this recipe together.
First things first, let's talk about ingredients. We'll need a small red onion, chopped up, an inch and a half of ginger, chopped up as well, four cloves of garlic, fairly hefty cloves, a tablespoon and a half of brown sugar, the juice of a squeezed lime, which is about a third of a cup, a quarter cup of soy sauce, and now, let's talk about spices. We've got half a teaspoon of nutmeg, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of allspice, a teaspoon of dried thyme, half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, half a teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper.
Now, these spices might seem kind of weird, but trust me, they work nicely together. I know what you're thinking - "Cayenne pepper? Is that really necessary?" Well, let me tell you, it's not just about the heat; it's about the depth of flavor it adds to the dish. So, don't be afraid to add a little kick to your jerk chicken! Now, if you want to do this by hand, you can, but I prefer using my food processor because it makes the process so much easier.
Now that we've got all our ingredients ready, let's talk about preparing the chicken. We'll need some chicken parts, primarily thighs and legs, which will be the star of our show today. Don't worry if they're not perfect; we'll massage them into submission with our marinade. Speaking of which, it's time to mix everything together! Place the lid on your food processor (or do this by hand, remember?), and give it a few pulses until all the ingredients are well combined. You should end up with a smooth, spicy sauce that smells just like jerk chicken - isn't that funny? It is!
Now, let's talk about refrigeration and patience. We're going to cover our marinated chicken in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the fridge for at least three hours. This will allow all those flavors to meld together and penetrate deep into the meat. If you want to get a head start, do this the night before, and then you'll be ready to bake or fry your jerk chicken the next day.
Now that our chicken is marinated and ready to go, let's talk about baking it. We'll need a baking tray lined with aluminum foil and spray some baking spray on top to ensure everything comes out smoothly. Place the chicken in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (or 180-190 degrees Celsius) for about 40-45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
After our chicken has baked for a bit, we'll want to add that final touch - a nice caramelized crust on top. To achieve this, simply turn the oven up to broil and let the chicken cook for another three to five minutes on each side. This will give us that beautiful, golden-brown color we all love.
And there you have it, folks! Our delicious jerk chicken is ready to be devoured. Plate it up with some green onions and lemon wedges for garnish - trust me, it's a game-changer. But don't just take my word for it; try this recipe out for yourself and let me know what you think!
So, where can you find all the great stuff I've been raving about? Head on over to Cookingshare.com, that's where! We've got a whole section dedicated to chicken recipes, including this one. Thanks for watching, thanks for subscribing, and don't forget to stay safe in the kitchen - see you next time!