This Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is a mixture of spices and herbs which you will love, if you are a spice lover and if you love to eat jerk food like me.

It is an easy spice blend that is authentic and rich in flavor.

Jerk is a popular cooking style in Jamaica, where a dry rub or a wet marinate is added to chicken, pork, sea food or vegetables.

That means, it will be spicy.

Yes, a lot of pepper.

The meat is then smoked for hours, which makes it taste so finger licking good.

At my local Walmart, they discontinued the Walkerswood Jamaican Jerk Seasoning that I usually used when I am grilling chicken.

Without a doubt, I had to come up with a homemade jerk seasoning.

This is a very authentic Jamaican Jerk Seasoning recipe that I use on my meat, when I am grilling or just to put in the oven on a tiresome day.

A Brief History of Jerk

It is said that the word “Jerk” comes from a Spanish word, which is derived from the Peruvian word Charqui.

Also, some say that jerk comes from the poking holes in the meat, so that the flavor from the seasoning and spices will penetrate while marinating, right before cooking.

The process of Jerk food comes from the days of slavery, when the Maroons would jerk to preserve meat all the way in the mountains.

The Maroons would cook their food in pits (that were built in the ground), with a burning fire.

This process of burying the meat with a slow cooking, it will leave the meat soft, juicy and tender.

Once the Maroons were in charge of acres of land and wouldn’t be in hiding, they would start a new process to preserve their meat.

This new process starts by using pimento wood with the meat on top above the fire.

It is the most popular way now to jerk meat.

Jerking in Jamaica

As a Jamaican, Jerk food is everything to us. Jamaicans eat jerk food pretty much everyday.

Undoubtedly, it is one of the most popular meal, especially on the street sides of Jamaica.

It is done in restaurants, but the street side ones are the best.

Once you are driving through some communities back home, immediately you will see a lot of Jerk shops along the roadsides, which serves as our fast food chains.

Yes, they are regular fast food chains in Jamaica, but Jamaicans love their home cooked meals.

As long as you are close by a Jerk shop, straightaway you will smell that lovely smokey jerk scent that is coming from their homemade jerk pans.

Trust me whenever you are jerking anywhere, let’s just say all your neighbors on the block will definitely know.

Another option for jerking food is by using a big fire place or jerk pits.

With this option, a special type of wood such as pimento wood or sweet wood is used for the meat to be jerked on.

Back home in Jamaica, they serve Jerk Pork or Jerk Chicken with slices of white hard dough bread or with some Jamaican Festival or better yet some fried breadfruit.

You can even chose to eat it by it self.

On the negative side, jerking food takes quite a while to finish cooking.

However, on the positive side, you will enjoy every bit of it and asking for more.

Oh yes! Bring on some Jerk food… Yah Man!!!

What can I use Jamaican Jerk Seasoning On?

We Jamaicans usually use it on our everyday meat.

These includes:

• Chicken
• Pork
• Fish
• Shrimp
• Lobster Tail

But there are so many ways you can use.

It is even awesome on some vegetables such as Bell Pepper, Asparagus, Eggplants and Cauliflower if you are a vegetarian.

Add some olive oil on the vegetables, add the jerk dry rub and then bake.

Where to get theses spices?

Overall, you can find all these everyday spices and herbs in your pantry.

Please check pantry first before you go spending any money.

Trust me, this is a Spice blend that is so easy and will cost you little or no money in the end.

However, you can also find all these spices and herbs at your local Supermarket such as Walmart and on the internet like Amazon.

The Ingredients that makes up the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe

This Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe gives a little hint of sweetness, spice and flavorful taste.

The flavor and spice from the allspice, paprika, nutmeg and cinnamon.

A little sweetness that gives more flavor from the brown sugar.

Adding some savory aroma from the garlic and onion powder.

The spiciness from the cayenne pepper, ground ginger, red pepper flakes and black pepper.

The rich herb flavors from the thyme and parsley.

How to make Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?

There is nothing hard to this Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe, so easy to prepare.

Firstly, just grab your measuring spoons and a Mason Jar or anything you choose to put it in and you are done.

Secondly, pour all the seasonings and spices in the mason jar

Finally, combine all of the ingredients together.

Yep! That’s it. Hence, easy and quick, ain’t nothing hard to it.

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
• 2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
• 2 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
• 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
• 2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 3 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Salt
• 2 Teaspoon Paprika or Smoked Paprika
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Ground Ginger
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients and mix well in a small bowl.
2. Store in a air tight container, like a mason jar, for up to 3 months.

Notes

1. For each pound of meat, you can use about 2 Tablespoon of the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning. You can choose to double or triple to use for the amount of meat you have.
2. You can add more Cayenne Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes if you can handle a lot of spice.

Please let me know what you think about the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, by leaving a comment below in the comment section.

Thanks for stopping by and please come back again.

Blessings and Love as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!