| Jerk is a traditional Jamaican style of cooking meats | | | | these produce a fiery but tasty flavor. Other |
| that in recent years has also become popular in other | | | | ingredients in jerk spice usually include cinnamon, |
| countries. It can be used for cooking a variety of | | | | cloves, nutmeg, garlic and thyme. Additionally, you can |
| meats - traditionally in Jamaica, the jerk style is used | | | | also add chopped onions or scallions to the mix. |
| for goat meat or pork - but today, it is also used for | | | | To prepare the meat, you should make some light cuts |
| chicken, fish or even tofu. | | | | in the surface and rub the spice into these. Ideally, you |
| The key element of jerk recipes is "Jamaican jerk | | | | should prepare the meat the day before cooking and |
| spice". This is actually a mixture of several different | | | | allow it to marinate overnight in the 'fridge, as this will |
| spices. If you look for it in larger supermarkets, you will | | | | really allow the meat to absorb the spice. |
| probably be able to find ready-made jerk spice, but if | | | | When the meat is ready to cook, if possible you should |
| you can't find it, or if you prefer, you could also prefer | | | | cook it over a charcoal grill. You can also place some |
| your own jerk spice. Preparing jerk spice yourself has | | | | pimento wood or berries on the hot coals, or if you |
| the advantage that you can modify the mixture of | | | | don't have any, hickory or apple, as many people say |
| ingredients to suit your personal preferences. | | | | this enhances the flavor. Of course, it may not always |
| As already noted, jerk spice is actually a mixture of | | | | be possible to use a charcoal grill, but don't worry, oven |
| several spices. The main spices are Jamaican allspice | | | | cooking can also produce passable results - you can |
| (which is also sometimes known as "pimento" or | | | | make perfectly good jerk pork in the oven. |
| "pimenta") and Scotch bell peppers. In combination, | | | | |