Call Me Jerk

Oven-baked jerk chicken served with baked potatoes and cucumber salad.

I’m no jerk but I love me some jerk chicken. A Japanese co-worker of mine searched for the meaning of “jerk” and saw “loggerhead”.
It would be hard to explain why I’ve been eating “loggerhead chicken” all this time.
Jerk refers to a style of cooking as well as a special mix of herbs and spices used to marinate meat, fish and poultry. Not many people could call me “jerk” and get away with it but if my love for jerk chicken is the point of reference, then by all means, call me Jerk.

Cooking Style

I do prefer jerk chicken done on a grill or in true Jamaican style, done on a grill in a drum pan with pimento wood. Pimento is a major ingredient for the taste and flavor of any kind of jerk food. This one I prepared however, was done in the oven.It was served with baked potatoes and a cucumber salad (pickle-like). Let’s have a look at the preparation. I’m no jerk-expert but this is how I prepared the meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 leg and thigh cuts with skin (deboned)
• Jerk seasoning (a spoonful)
• grated onion and garlic
• salt to taste
• lemon (half for washing)

I used two pieces of de-boned leg and thigh chicken cuts and washes them with lemon. I usually wash poultry with lemon or vinegar.

I got this bottle of jerk seasoning from a friend in England. I love the flavor it brings to the chicken. The brand is “Dunn’s River”. Dunn’s River Falls also happens to be my favorite attraction in Jamaica.

Method:

1. Wash chicken with lemon, drain and pat-fry with a piece of paper towel.

2. Add and rub the jerk seasoning on. Add a little grated onion and garlic and powdered pimento (my preference).
   Add a little browning if desired.

3. Leave over-night in the refrigerator for marinating.
   (Sometimes I end up cooking it right away)

4. Pre-heat toaster oven and bake for about 45 minutes. Half-way through, turn the chicken over to ensure that it’s thoroughly cooked and both sides are fairly evenly browned. Leaving a bit of skin on provides a bit of moisture during the cooking process and a bit of crisp at the end of the process.

5. Chop the oven- baked jerk chicken in desired sizes.

A spoon of jerk sauce and grated onion and garlic.

Chicken with jerk marinade.


Baked jerk chicken- although the top side seems charred, the poultry is tender and moist.

Chopped Jerk Chicken

Baked Potatoes

The potatoes (2) were washed and then wrapped in wet paper towel. They were placed in the microwave for 9 minutes and were individually done. There were two different kinds of potatoes. Butter was added to one after it was cooked.

Sweet potato wrapped in wet paper towel.


Baked potato- it was peeled and cut in slices.

This potato was done similarly but
butter was added to it after it was cooked.

Cucumber Salad🥒

The pickle-like salad was very easy. One cucumber and a slice of carrot were used. The cucumber was cut in thick slices and the slice of carrot was finely diced. Some vinegar, salt, brown sugar and black pepper were added to taste.

The salad was placed at the centre of the dish. The meal was enjoyed by the family.
Thank you for reading my post. Have you ever made jerk chicken? Please tell me about your method in the comment section. Have a great day.