| Jerk is one of the most popular styles of Jamaican | | | | actually a mixture of several spices. It gets most of its |
| cooking. It is used for cooking meat, traditionally pork or | | | | flavor from two particular ingredients, namely Jamaican |
| goat, but nowadays chicken and fish as well. All jerk | | | | allspice (also known as "pimento" or "pimenta") and |
| dishes are spicy, even fiery, but they can be very | | | | Scotch bell peppers. Jerk spice also usually contains |
| tasty and are appreciated by many spice lovers. | | | | several other spices such as garlic, cloves, cinnamon |
| The main secret behind the flavor of jerk is in the | | | | and thyme, and is usually mixed with chopped onions |
| preparation of the meat. This is done by marinading | | | | and/or scallions before being applied to the meat. |
| the meat in a mixture of spices known as "Jamaican | | | | The best way to cook jerk chicken is over a charcoal |
| jerk spice". Ideally, you should marinade the meat over | | | | barbecue grill. Ideally, you should place some pimento |
| night in the 'fridge and then cook the following day. | | | | wood or berries on the grill - but if this is not possible |
| Rather than just letting the marinade soak into the | | | | you can put some hickory or apple on the coals |
| meat, I would suggest making some light cuts in the | | | | instead. Of course, barbecuing meat is not always |
| surface of the meat, and rubbing the marinade into | | | | possible, for example during the Winter or if you live in |
| these as well as the meat generally. | | | | a city - in that case, you can instead roast the meat in |
| As already mentioned, Jamaican jerk spice is a | | | | a normal kitchen oven, and still get good results. |