Description
Spicy Caribbean jerk chicken dances with fragrant rice in this soulful island-inspired dish. Fiery seasonings and tropical flavors promise a culinary journey you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2.5 lb (1.13 kg) boneless skinless chicken thighs
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1/3 cup yellow onions, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 3 sprigs curly parsley, chopped
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dry jerk seasoning
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or hot water)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
Instructions
- Craft a robust jerk seasoning blend by combining salt, pepper, and traditional Caribbean spices to infuse deep flavor into the chicken thighs.
- Allow chicken to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes, or ideally overnight, to maximize the absorption of aromatic spices.
- Heat avocado oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, creating a golden sear on each side of the chicken thighs to lock in juices and develop a rich caramelized exterior.
- Remove seared chicken and set aside, maintaining the flavorful fond in the skillet.
- Sauté a medley of onions, carrots, celery, and bell peppers for 3-4 minutes, releasing their natural sweetness and creating an aromatic base for the rice.
- Introduce rinsed rice and additional jerk seasoning into the vegetable mixture, ensuring each grain is evenly coated with spices and aromatics.
- Deglaze the skillet with vegetable broth and rice vinegar, scraping up the concentrated flavor bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Gently nestle the seared chicken thighs into the seasoned rice mixture, ensuring they are partially submerged.
- Cover the skillet tightly with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 1 hour, allowing the rice to absorb the broth and the chicken to become tender.
- Once completed, remove from the oven, let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes, then fluff the rice and serve the aromatic Caribbean-inspired meal.
Notes
- Boost jerk seasoning’s authenticity by using fresh thyme, allspice, and scotch bonnet peppers for a genuine Caribbean flavor profile.
- Enhance marinade absorption by making small cuts in chicken thighs, allowing seasonings to penetrate deeper into the meat.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jerk seasoning quantity or using mild/hot variations to suit different spice tolerances.
- Transform recipe into gluten-free and dairy-free dish by ensuring all ingredients, especially broth and seasonings, are certified allergen-free.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg