JERK CHICKEN JAMAICA RECIPES

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.

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine scallion greens, shallots, garlic, ginger, and Scotch Bonnet pepper.
• In another bowl, combine allspice, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, dark-brown sugar, salt and pepper.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Whisk in orange juice, vinegar, lime juice, and soy sauce.
• Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking constantly.
• Add the reserved scallion mixture; stir to combine.
• Let rest at least one hour.
• Wash chicken, pork, or fish well, pat dry and place in a bowl.
• Add sauce; rub in well.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Before cooking, scrape paste off of the meat.
• Grill over charcoal.
• You may add water-soaked allspice berries to the coals for smoke and additional flavor.
• Serve with Jamaican "rice and peas".