Jamaican Jerk Hen | Diethood

This Jamaican jerk hen will get the tastebuds tingling with a candy, smoky do-it-yourself jerk seasoning that infuses each chunk with Caribbean taste. After a fast sizzle in a sizzling skillet, I serve it with a straightforward sauce constituted of juicy sautéed peaches and plums.

With all that taste, this jerk hen takes simply half-hour to make! For extra Caribbean-style recipes, do that simple Jamaican curry hen and my spicy Cuban mojo hen.

 

Each time I make this Jamaican jerk hen, I discover myself buzzing alongside to the track “Kokomo” by the Seaside Boys (Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya…). I swear, the flavors on this jerk hen recipe have teleportation powers. One chunk and I really feel like I’ve my ft within the sand within the heat Caribbean. This do-it-yourself jerk hen is good, fragrant, smoky, and with an excellent quantity of warmth. Move me a glass of sorrel juice and I’m there!

Why You’ll Go Loopy For This Jerk Hen Recipe

• Candy, spicy, savory. I give this hen a scrumptious rub-down with a straightforward do-it-yourself jerk seasoning (only a handful of pantry spices!) and serve it with sweet-savory sautéed peaches and plums. It’s the BEST combo.
• 30-minute meal. Boneless hen breast is fast to prepare dinner within the pan and the spices create a scrumptious crust on the skin whereas it sears. I take advantage of the leftover pan bits to make a easy however scrumptious sauce with sautéed peaches and plums. The entire dish takes half-hour!
• Nice for leftovers. Jamaican jerk hen shops effectively and tastes nice chilly or reheated. I really like dicing up the leftovers and rolling them up in smooth flatbread for a lunch wrap. 

What You’ll Want

Listed here are the notes on the elements I used on this simple jerk recipe. Scroll to the recipe card after the publish for a printable record with quantities.

• Hen – I take advantage of boneless, skinless hen breasts, however you can also make jerk hen thighs, too. Hen on the bone additionally works, although it takes longer to prepare dinner.
• Jerk Seasoning – This may be store-bought or do-it-yourself (see under). Jamaican jerk spice is essential to the hen’s taste.
• Olive Oil – Or avocado oil, for pan-frying.
• Cornstarch – I make a fast slurry with cornstarch and water to thicken the pan sauce.
• Stone Fruit – I take advantage of a mixture of sliced ripe peaches and crimson plums since they’re simple to search out. Different good stone fruit choices are nectarines, apricots, and mangos. Be at liberty to make use of what you want, and what’s in season.
• Brown Sugar – Or granulated sugar, however I like the additional caramelization of brown sugar on this recipe. You too can use one other sweetener, like honey.

Straightforward Selfmade Jerk Seasoning 

My do-it-yourself Jamaican jerk seasoning is a mix of pantry-friendly spices like garlic powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, allspice, floor cinnamon, and nutmeg. The recipe is a bit milder than some conventional jerk blends on the market, however you may simply adapt the warmth to style. In the event you love a five-alarm fireplace, bump up the cayenne and crushed pepper, or use a warmer chili powder, like habanero.

Find out how to Make Jamaican Jerk Hen

Observe these steps to make spicy jerk hen topped with caramelized peaches and plums:

1. Season the hen. Begin by rubbing the hen throughout with jerk seasoning.
2. Prepare dinner. Subsequent, sear the hen in a skillet over medium warmth. Preserve the cooked hen coated whilst you set it apart to make the sauce.
3. Make the sauce. In the identical skillet, sauté sliced peaches and plums with brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir in a slurry of cornstarch and water and let that simmer.
4. Serve. As soon as the sauce thickens, spoon it over the jerk hen and serve. See under for a few of my favourite serving concepts.

Grilling Technique

Cooking jerk hen on the stovetop is quick and straightforward, however I like to make this on the grill within the summertime. To make grilled Jamaican jerk hen, rub the hen with seasoning as directed and observe the grilling instructions for my grilled blackened hen.

Serving Strategies

This Jamaican jerk hen doesn’t want a lot in addition to a mattress of fluffy white rice. A glass of Riesling goes nice with the daring, spicy jerk flavors, or you may wash it down with hibiscus iced tea. Typically, I’ll skip the fruit sauce and slice the hen breasts over jerk hen rasta pasta on weeknights.

To actually make this right into a Caribbean feast, serve jerk hen with buttery baked lobster tails, or island hop to the Dominican Republic with a giant bowl of sancocho dominicano. And don’t miss a slice of banana pound cake for dessert!

Steadily Requested Questions

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Retailer. Preserve any leftover jerk hen hermetic within the fridge for 3-4 days. You too can freeze leftovers for as much as 3 months and defrost them within the fridge for reheating. 

Reheat. Heat the hen within the oven at 350ºF below foil till it’s sizzling all through.

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