How to Make Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

The island of Jamaica is famous for its beautiful beaches, reggae music, exotic fruits, its cheerful people and their amazing food. But, you haven't tasted Jamaica until you've tried Jamaican Jerk, ya mon! Be forewarned, if you cannot handle spicy-hot foods, jerk may not be for you. Omitting chili pepper vastly changes the end product, and it's just not jerk without the heat. But you can use a milder pepper if you wish.

Ingredients

1/2 cup ground allspice
1/2+ cup packed brown sugar
6-8 garlic cloves
2-3 scotch bonnet peppers, depending on size
1 tablespoon ground thyme or 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) thyme leaves
2 bunches green onions (scallions)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons soy sauce to moisten

Steps

1
Place the allspice, brown sugar, garlic, scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, green onion, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and soy sauce in a food processor and pulse it until smooth. You may use whole allspice berries, if available, but use enough to give the equivalent of half a cup ground. (Allspice berries and scotch bonnets are key ingredients.) Keep this sauce refrigerated and it will keep for just about forever.
2
Rub the meat (chicken, pork or beef) with the seasoning. If using a pork shoulder, score the fat and rub in. With chicken, be sure to rub under skin and in the cavities. This seasoning can also be used with fish, but use a firm-fleshed fish like tuna or salmon.

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3
For best results, marinate overnight.
4
Enjoy your seasoned food.

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Community Q&A

Question

What is scotch bonnet

Community Answer

Scotch bonnets are very small, very hot peppers.
Question

What can I do if I don't have a food processor?

Nicky Jackson

Community Answer

You can use a blender, nutri-bullet, or anything that will break down and blend the ingredients.
Question

What do I do if I don't have a food processor? Do I use a blender?

Community Answer

When the recipe calls for a food processor to mince or chop, a blender is likely to be the better choice. Use the mixer when trying to cream a combination of liquid and solids such as butter, flour and milk. Use the mixer to whip and aerate in recipes such as meringues and whipped cream.

Warnings

Do not handle scotch bonnet peppers without wearing plastic or latex gloves; the oils can cause serious irritation and burning to your hands.

Thanks!
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This sauce can be very spicy. Increase the amount of garlic and peppers with caution.

Thanks!
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