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Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe

This is by far, the BEST Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe EVER. Bar none. If you want a real and authentic taste of Jamaica, this shows you not only the ingredients but how all of them come together and possible substations.

Cuisine Caribbean, Jamaican
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, grilling, jerk
Prep Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 5 medium-large onions
  • 4 cups chopped scallion/green onions
  • 8 stalks fresh thyme
  • 9 cloves of garlic
  • ¼ cup allspice berries/Jamaican peppercorns or 1 ½ tsp ground allspice
  • 2 scotch bonnet peppers (substitute withhabaneros) without seeds to reduce heat or add some seeds to increase heat
  • 1 tbsp chopped ginger
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns or 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp grated nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup cooking oil a plain oil like sunflower or canola

Instructions

  1. Method for Jerk Seasoning:
  2. Roast allspice and black peppercorns in a dry frying pan. Start from a cold frying pan and toss around until the pan starts to smoke then remove it from heat.
  3. Grind them in a spice grinder
  4. Combine with all other dry spices and set aside
  5. Pour oil in blender or food processor, as well as onions, thyme, garlic, ginger, scotch bonnet, and pulse until it purées. Add the dry spices and pulse until incorporated.
  6. Pour purée into a bowl and  fold in scallion/green onions with a spatula or spoon.
  7. Will last in refrigerator for roughly 3-4 weeks in an air-tight container.
  8. Method for Jerking: Use seasoning  to heavily coat chicken/meat and marinate for  about 24 hours.  Traditionally used with pork in Jamaica.  You may also use less for fish and other seafood.
  9. When barbecuing on charcoal (best for the flavour), make certain coals are white before you begin.  Put chicken on skin side down and remember to turn often and cook slowly because we do not want charred meat for dinner!
  10. Traditionally, after cooking, we chop into small pieces.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Add the scallions last after everything has been blended so that they do not become bitter after too much processing.