Description
Succulent caribbean jerk chicken and rice brings fiery Jamaican flavors to your dinner table. Spicy marinated chicken with fragrant rice creates a memorable meal that delights keen palates.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp butter or coconut oil
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 ½ cups coconut milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup kidney beans or black beans
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 lime (cut into wedges)
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- Fresh cilantro or green onions (chopped)
Instructions
- Marinade Preparation: Whisk olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, allspice, paprika, cinnamon, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper into a vibrant Caribbean-inspired seasoning blend.
- Chicken Marination: Thoroughly coat chicken thighs with the prepared marinade, ensuring complete and even coverage. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or ideally overnight, to allow flavors to deeply infuse into the meat.
- Temperature Equalization: Remove marinated chicken from refrigerator and let rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to promote uniform cooking.
- Heat Preparation: Preheat grill, grill pan, or oven to medium-high heat, creating optimal conditions for caramelization and flavor development.
- Cooking Process: Grill or roast chicken thighs, rotating periodically to prevent burning, until internal temperature reaches 165°F and exterior develops a rich, mahogany-colored crust with appetizing charred edges.
- Resting and Serving: Allow grilled chicken to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling juice redistribution and ensuring maximum tenderness when sliced and served alongside fragrant rice.
Notes
- Master Marination Technique: Give chicken at least 2 hours (ideally overnight) to absorb complex Caribbean spice profile for deeper, more intense flavor penetration.
- Avoid Burning Spices: Lower cooking temperature or use indirect heat to prevent sugar-based marinade from charring too quickly and becoming bitter.
- Temperature Control: Let chicken reach room temperature before cooking to ensure even heat distribution and prevent dry, tough meat texture.
- Dietary Adaptation: Replace chicken thighs with tofu or tempeh for vegetarian version, maintaining same marinade for authentic Caribbean taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg