Recipe: Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Mango Sauce
Photo credit Caribbean Heritage Magazine
June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, a month-long celebration designed to shine light on the achievements of Carribean Americans. Many Carribean American organizations celebrate the month by sharing Caribbean cultures and advocating critical issues impacting the Carribean such as sustainable development, disaster relief, tourism, eco preservation, and more. There is no one Caribbean American culture. With over 700 islands the cultures and populations vary and are extremely diverse.
We have always loved to explore culture through food, so it was natural for us to celebrate this month by recreating a classic dish with a Sweet Life flair. We decided to try Jamaican jerk because it is one of the most well-known of Caribbean foods by most Americans. Before we did our research we thought as many do that Jamaican Jerk was all about the spice mixture. What we learned is that the rich spicy seasoning blend reflects its origins. Jerk is the result of the blending of the native Taino and African cultures in Jamaica. It is the cooking style used in tandem with the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning blend that creates what we recognize instantly as Jerk.
Traditionally Jerk dishes are created by seasoning chicken or pork with pimento (allspice berries), salt, and bird peppers (a species of chilies in the same family as cayenne); wrapping it in pepper elder leaves; and roasting it in an underground smokeless pit over dying embers. Modern adaptations of the traditional style include different peppers, seafood and meatless options, and a variety of different spices. According to Jamaica’s official culinary authorities, for a dish to be classified as “authentic jerk,” the meat has to be smoked over pimento wood. Fortunately, Pimento wood can be easily ordered from mainstream suppliers such as Amazon or even Home Depot.
Please note that this recipe does not follow a traditional approach to the jerk cooking style, but we thought it important to share the traditions as well as the flavor. We used a preblended jerk seasoning, but we found a delicious looking homemade Jerk Marinade recipe from Carribean American blogger Brooklyn Active Mama. You can check that out here if you want to go with a more authentic approach.
Jerk Chicken with Mango and Pineapple Sauce Recipe
Caribbean Jerk chicken takes center stage with the divine addition of a pineapple mango sauce. Not too sweet, not too sour, just a little spicy - amazingly right.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp. jerk seasoning
1 c. pineapple diced
1 ripe mango diced
¼ c. Sweet Life Jelly Company Pineapple Mango Jelly
¼ c. orange juice
¼ c. chicken stock
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. coconut oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Season the chicken to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of jerk seasoning.
Melt coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Brown the chicken breasts on both sides for 4 to 5 minutes per side and set aside.
Add the pineapple and mango to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring.
Pour in the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the skillet.
Add the orange juice, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Pineapple Mango jelly, and 1 tbsp. jerk seasoning, and whisk everything together. Check spices and season to taste.
Bring the chicken back to the skillet, cover, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Serve the chicken topped with the mango pineapple sauce.
Some wonderful things to pair with this recipe might be white rice, brown rice or cilantro lime rice. I will always hands down pick cilantro lime rice because it is honestly one of my favorite foods but brown rice is a whole grain healthier option. You can also try one of the following:
Fresh salsa.
Leafy green salad or cucumber salad.
Roasted potatoes or grilled potatoes.
Plantains.
Coleslaw.
Potato salad.
Baked potatoes or garlic potatoes
