Spicy Jerk Marinade with Scotch Bonnet Peppers and Warm Spices Recipe
This vibrant and flavorful Jerk Marinade combines traditional Jamaican spices and fresh ingredients to create an authentic base for marinating meats or vegetables. It features a blend of aromatic allspice, fiery Scotch bonnet peppers, and tangy citrus juices, perfect for infusing bold, spicy, and smoky notes into your dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 2 cups of marinade 1x
- Category: Sauce/Marinade
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Jamaican
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 medium Onion, chopped in quarters
- 5 stalks Escallion, cut in half
- 1 bunch Thyme, hard stems removed
- 1 head Garlic (12 – 15 cloves)
- 2 Scotch Bonnet Peppers (adjust based on heat preference)
- 1 pinch Ginger (approximately 23g)
Spices
- 10 Whole Pimento Seeds (Allspice berries)
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Nutmeg (or freshly grated)
- 1/4 tsp Ground Allspice
- 1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
Liquids & Sweeteners
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 tbsp Browning Sauce (or Homemade Browning Sauce)
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- Juice from 1/2 Lime (optional)
- Juice from 1/2 Lemon (optional)
- Juice from 1/2 Orange (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients as specified, ensuring the onion is quartered, the escallions are halved, and the thyme stems are removed to focus on the leaves.
- Blend Marinade: Place all ingredients including spices, vegetables, herbs, sweeteners, and citrus juices into a food processor or blender. Pulse repeatedly until the mixture reaches a finely chopped or pureed consistency according to your texture preference.
- Store Properly: Transfer the jerk marinade to an airtight glass jar and place it in the coldest part of your refrigerator to maintain freshness. For longer storage, freeze the marinade in ice cube trays and once solid, transfer the cubes into a freezer-safe bag.
Notes
- The amount of Scotch bonnet peppers can be adjusted depending on your tolerance for heat.
- Using fresh spices such as freshly grated nutmeg enhances the depth of flavor.
- The citrus juices (lime, lemon, orange) are optional but add a bright, tangy dimension to the marinade.
- Browning sauce contributes color and a slight caramelized taste but can be omitted if unavailable.
- This marinade can be used immediately or stored for up to one week in the refrigerator.
- The marinade works well for chicken, pork, seafood, or tofu.
Keywords: Jerk Marinade, Jamaican marinade, spicy marinade, Scotch bonnet, allspice, Caribbean sauce, grilled marinade, jerk sauce, marinating blend
