JERK CHICKEN WITH PICKLED BANANAS

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At the heart of superb jerk seasoning is the coalescing of spice and heat, specifically the two dominant forces of allspice berries and chile peppers. This marinade, which came to me from Shaun Lewis, a Jamaican cook I worked with during my time as a summer camp chef, is the best I've ever tasted, delivering a quietly thrilling, savory warmth that kind of spreads across the chest and remains there without ever ferociously igniting. This achievement - like a dark rolling thunder that somehow remains in the neighboring field and never crosses the fence - is undoubtedly the result of the 20 other ingredients in the recipe working in tandem, so don't omit any of them.

Provided by Gabrielle Hamilton

Categories     dinner, meat, poultry, main course

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 30

2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces Guinness stout
1 medium red onion (about 9 ounces), finely chopped
8 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup Tabasco sauce
1 large nutmeg seed, freshly grated (about 4 teaspoons)
1/4 cup whole allspice berries, ground (about 3 tablespoons)
6 large garlic cloves, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns, crushed
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 jalapeƱo, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
2 habanero chiles, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
3 dried bay leaves
12 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs
6 cups white vinegar
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 branches fresh thyme
3 tablespoons kosher salt
2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 habanero chile, split, seeds and stem intact
6 cloves
6 just-ripe bananas

Steps:

  • In a small skillet, toast the coriander and cumin seeds over medium heat, shaking the pan, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Let cool, then grind in a spice grinder until pulverized.
  • Add to a large bowl along with all other marinade ingredients (everything but the chicken). Add 1 cup water and whisk to combine. Alternatively, working in two batches, place all marinade ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 2 or 3 times to combine.
  • Place chicken in a large container big enough for all pieces plus marinade. Reserve 3/4 cup marinade for later use, and pour remaining marinade over the chicken. Refrigerate 1 or 2 days (chicken can be stored for up to 5 days).
  • Prepare the pickled bananas: Add all ingredients except for the bananas to a nonreactive saucepan and boil over high, 10 minutes. Chill completely. Once brine is chilled, peel and slice the bananas on the bias. Add to the brine and chill, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
  • Heat grill to medium-low. Remove chicken from marinade and temper at room temperature for 15 minutes. Place chicken on the grill, skin-side down. Every minute or so, rotate the chicken a half turn so that the skin develops a deep, dark mahogany char and has been slightly crisped and rendered, 8 to 10 minutes total.
  • Turn chicken over to finish cooking, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, skin side up. Brush the reserved marinade on the skin side. Remove bananas from brine and serve with jerk chicken.

Saqib Mailk
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This recipe is a keeper! The chicken was so moist and flavorful, and the pickled bananas were the perfect accompaniment. I will definitely be making this dish again and again.


OGECHI EMEKA (Gentle guy)
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I'm not sure what went wrong, but my jerk chicken turned out really dry. The pickled bananas were good, though.


Autumn Marsh
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This dish was absolutely delicious! The chicken was so juicy and flavorful, and the pickled bananas added a nice tangy sweetness. I will definitely be making this dish again soon.


Ghbc Vvv
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Overall, I thought this dish was just okay. The chicken was a bit bland, and the pickled bananas were not as flavorful as I expected. I might try making this dish again with a different recipe.


Mobile Digital Marketing Expert
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I made this dish for my family and they loved it! The chicken was so flavorful and the pickled bananas were a nice surprise. I will definitely be making this dish again.


Daoet Khan
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This recipe was a disaster! The chicken was dry and overcooked, and the pickled bananas were mushy. I would not recommend this recipe to anyone.


Heather Lawson
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I thought the pickled bananas were a bit too sour, but the jerk chicken was delicious. I would make this dish again, but I would use a different recipe for the pickled bananas.


Truxrux
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This dish was amazing! The chicken was cooked perfectly and the pickled bananas were a perfect complement. I will definitely be making this again!


mdoliur islam
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The jerk chicken was a bit too spicy for me, but the pickled bananas were a great way to cool it down. I'll definitely be making this dish again, but I'll use less pepper next time.


Jakob Burke
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I love how easy this recipe is to follow. I'm not a very experienced cook, but I was able to make this dish without any problems. And it turned out delicious!


BABU BHAI
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This jerk chicken with pickled bananas was a hit at my last dinner party! The chicken was so flavorful and juicy, and the pickled bananas added a nice tangy sweetness. I'll definitely be making this dish again.