Description
A spicy, flavorful twist on classic fried chicken, this Jamaican-style jerk fried chicken combines bold jerk seasoning, vinegar lime marinade, and a crispy, seasoned flour coating for a truly unforgettable dish.
Ingredients
1 whole chicken (or chicken pieces of your choice), chopped
½ cup vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
½ cup jerk seasoning
4 cups flour
1 cup mayonnaise (add more if needed)
½ tsp dry oregano
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp complete seasoning
1 tsp ground white pepper (optional)
1 tsp adobo seasoning
A pinch or two of garlic salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 scotch bonnet pepper
5 pimento berries
2 stems fresh thyme
2 cloves raw garlic, crushed
5 cups canola oil (or any frying oil except extra-virgin olive oil)
Instructions
- Add oil to a pot and heat while you chop the chicken.
- Soak chicken in vinegar and lime juice for at least 10 minutes to remove rawness.
- Season chicken with jerk seasoning and other dry spices; add mayonnaise and mix well. Reserve some seasoning for the flour.
- Set up two bowls: one with cool water (with a strainer placed in it), the other with flour mixed with the reserved dry seasoning.
- Dredge seasoned chicken in flour—scoop, fold, press until fully coated. Shake off excess.
- Dip the floured chicken in the water bath (via strainer), drain, then return it to the flour mixture. Press and coat again, shake off excess.
- Into the heated oil, add the scotch bonnet pepper, pimento berries, thyme, and garlic to infuse flavor.
- Once oil is hot, fry chicken pieces for about 12–15 minutes, depending on size, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Place fried chicken on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve immediately with your favorite side.
Notes
- Use gloves when handling scotch bonnet pepper to avoid skin irritation.
- Marinating the chicken longer enhances flavor depth.
- Ensure oil is properly heated to avoid greasy chicken.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness (165°F internal temp).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
