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Jerk Chicken

Name: Jerk Chicken
Prep time: 27 min
Total time: 4 h 27 min
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 3 lbs chicken pieces; 4 Scotch bonnet peppers; 2 tbsp allspice berries; 1 tbsp fresh thyme; 6 cloves garlic; 2-inch piece ginger; 6 scallions; 3 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 1 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 tbsp lime juice

Jerk Chicken reads umami 6.4, sourness 5.5 and citrus 5.3 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Jamaican main, about 4 hr 27 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 7.1 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 3.7 / 10
Sour & Bright — 7.1 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 3.1 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.7 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 6.4 · Sourness 5.5 · Citrus 5.3 · Salinity 4.6 · Allium 4.0 · Sweetness 3.4 · Heat 3.4 · Warm Spice 3.0 · Richness 2.8 · Funk & Ferment 2.7 · Herbaceous 2.6 · Bitterness 1.5 · Earthy 1.3 · Floral 1.3 · Nutty 1.0 · Fruity 0.8 · Smoke 0.7

What's in it (14)

3 lbs chicken pieces
4 Scotch bonnet peppers
2 tbsp allspice berries
1 tbsp fresh thyme
6 cloves garlic
2-inch piece ginger
6 scallions
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp lime juice

Time & effort: about 4 hr 27 min (27 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 104.8 kcal, 16.8 g protein, 3 g fat, 3.4 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Blend all marinade ingredients into a paste and coat the chicken thoroughly, marinating at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
Grill over charcoal or pimento wood on low indirect heat for 35 to 50 minutes, turning and basting occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through with a charred, smoky exterior.
Rest a few minutes before serving with festival or rice and peas.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Grilled Jerk Chicken Thighs — Caribbean
Jerk Pork — Jamaican
Doris' Santa Fe Chicken — Tex-Mex
Sheet-Pan Steak Fajita Nachos Bake — Tex-Mex
Black Bean Enchiladas with Melted Cheese — Tex-Mex

Keep reading: what umami, sourness, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.