Jamaican Jerk-Style Marinade

5 from 3 votes

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Jerk is defined both as a spice blend and a style of cooking, hailing from Jamaica, with its roots in Africa.

Jamaican Jerk Marinade / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com
Jamaican Jerk Marinade / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

If you have a blender of a food processor, this Jamaican Jerk-Style Marinade comes together in two shakes.  It’s great on pork and chicken.  Marinate for 4 to 12 hours in the refrigerator, then you can either grill or broil, depending on the weather or where you live.

Serve with lots of rice, sautéed greens, and Citrusy Mango Ginger Salsa.

What is Jerk?

Jerk is defined both as a spice blend and a style of cooking, hailing from Jamaica, with its roots in Africa. Pork and chicken are the two most commonly “jerked” meats, but now jerk seasoning and cooking methods are applied to everything from tofu to beef. Allspice (native to Jamaica) and hot peppers are the two most integral ingredients to a jerk marinade, which can be either dry or wet.

Jerk is defined both as a spice blend and a style of cooking, hailing from Jamaica, with its roots in Africa.

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How to Make Spicy Marinade

You can pump up the heat further by adding an extra jalapeno, and a bit more garlic, or using Scotch Bonnet peppers, which are the classic peppers involved in jerk seasoning.

Traditional jerk cooking involves smoking, though now grilling is a commonly used cooking method.  Also, fresh ginger is often used, though I used dried in this recipe, because uncharacteristically I was out of fresh.

the best marinades/The Mom 100/Katie Workman

If you make this Jamaican Jerk-Style Marinade, or any marinade, ahead of time, be sure to give it a good shake before marinating your food so that the ingredients re-incorporate. And check out How Long Do I Marinate That? for more tips about how long for different types of foods.

More Easy Marinade Recipes:

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5 from 3 votes

Jamaican Jerk-Style Marinade

Jerk is defined both as a spice blend and a style of cooking, hailing from Jamaica, with its roots in Africa.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 People

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Generous pinch nutmeg optional
  • 4 scallions white and light green parts, finely chopped

Instructions 

  • Put the vegetable oil, lime juice, scallions, garlic, jalapeno, allspice, ginger, brown sugar, salt and pepper (and nutmeg if using) in a bowl or a jar with a lid. 
  • Whisk or shake to combine well.  Or, pulse in a food processor or blender.

Notes

What is Jerk?

Jerk is defined both as a spice blend and a style of cooking, hailing from Jamaica, with its roots in Africa. Pork and chicken are the two most commonly “jerked” meats, but now jerk seasoning and cooking methods are applied to everything from tofu to beef. Allspice (native to Jamaica) and hot peppers are the two most integral ingredients to a jerk marinade, which can be either dry or wet.

Nutrition

Calories: 87kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Sodium: 195mg, Potassium: 20mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 52IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg
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About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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