Jamaican Jerk Grilled Chicken

When you're ready to start grilling for the summer season, please consider trying this recipe for Jamaican Jerk grilled chicken. Jerk seasoning is very spicy and this is not for the faint of taste. But is it delicious? Oh yes, it is. Thank you Simply Recipes for this great keeper!

½ cup malt vinegar (or white vinegar)

2 T. dark rum

2 Scotch bonnet peppers (or habaneros), with seeds, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

4 green onion tops, chopped

1 T. dried thyme or 2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped

2 T. olive oil

2 t. salt

2 t. freshly ground black pepper

4 t. ground allspice

4 t. ground cinnamon

4 t. ground nutmeg

4 t. ground ginger

2 t. molasses

1 (5 or 6 pound) roasting chicken, cut in half, lengthwise (NOTE:  I used 6 leg quarters)

1/2 cup lime juice

Salt and pepper

Put vinegar, rum, hot peppers, onion, green onion tops, thyme, olive oil, salt, pepper, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and molasses into a blender. Pulse until mostly smooth.

Place chicken in a large freezer bag, or in a large roasting pan or baking dish.  Pour lime juice over the chicken and coat well. Add the jerk paste to the chicken pieces and coat well. Seal the bag or cover the chicken in the pan with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

When you are ready to cook the chicken, remove chicken from the marinade bag or pan. Put the remaining marinade into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to use as a basting sauce for the chicken. If you want you can reserve a little of the marinade (once boiled for 10 minutes since it has been in contact with raw chicken) to serve with the chicken or to mix with some ketchup and a dash of soy sauce for a serving sauce.

Preheat grill to medium high. Sprinkle chicken halves with salt and pepper. Place chicken halves, skin side down on the grill grates. Cover. Cook for approximately one hour, keeping the internal grill temperature between 350°F and 400°F, turning the chickens occasionally and basting with marinade, until the chicken halves are cooked through.  

The chicken is done when the juices run clear (not pink) when a knife tip is inserted into both the chicken breast and thigh, about 165-170°F for the breast and 180-185°F for the thigh. Transfer chicken to platter. Tent loosely with foil to keep warm and let stand 15 minutes.