Jamaican Feast - Jerk & Fritters

Jerk is the traditional BBQ of Jamaica. Authentic Jerk flavoring is based on four ingredients: Scotch Bonnet Peppers (Habaneros), Pimiento Berries (Allspice), Thyme, and smoke!


Jerk Marinade - The ingredients were rough chopped, and blended in a blender. This was a double batch.


Ingredients:
Each batch is enough for a whole chicken, a Pork Roast or 7-8 Chops.

2 Scallions or a small onion.
1 or 2 Scotch Bonnet (Habanero) Peppers with seeds removed. Use 2 ONLY if you really like it hot! We used 1 per batch.
2 TBS. Allspice or, [1 TBS Allspice, 1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon & 1 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg]
2 TBS Thyme
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
1/4 tsp. Granulated Garlic (or 2 cloves fresh)
1/4 cup Brown Sugar packed (Dark is best
1 Cup Orange Juice
1 Cup Vinegar
1/2 cup neutral cooking oil
2 TBS. Lime juice or the juice of 1 Lime


Cut the chicken as desired. Prick Pork Chops & Chicken all over with a fork. Pork Roast: score deeply on both sides as shown. Place in a container with the marinade for several hours in the fridge. RESERVE about 1 cup of the marinade per batch!




Grill/smoke the meat as you normally would. For a more authentic smoke flavor, add a small handful of Jamaican Pimiento Berries (whole Allspice) in with the pellets or in a foil pouch with a hole.




The reserved marinade can be used as braising liquid and/or simmer & reduce it with 1 or 2 TBS. sugar to make a glaze. Brush the glaze on the meat during the last 15 - 30 minutes of grilling.





I love conch fritters! The Conch meat (a sea mollusk) took some doing to locate and wasn't cheap, but well worth it! Use Cod and you'll have Codfish Fritters called "Stamp and Go" in Jamaica. You could also substitute Crab, Lobster, etc. whatever you like.

Roasting the red bell pepper adds more flavor! I thawed a lb. of Conch meat then chopped it in a food processor.



Conch or Codfish Fritters:

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 TBS. sugar.
1/2 tsp Thyme
1 tsp salt.
1/2 tsp. Ground Allspice
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper

Wet Ingredients:
1 lb. Conch Meat finely chopped or Cod fish shredded.
2 - 3 scallions finely chopped.
Scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
1 roasted red pepper diced (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg beaten
3/4 cup beer - Jamaican beer if you have it

Combine dry ingredients & wet ingredients seperately, then combine the two (start with 1/2 cup beer and add more if needed).

Use a scoop or teaspoon to drop the batter into hot oil and fry until golden brown.

The fritter batter was made and scoopfuls were dropped into hot oil to fry.






The Jerk Chicken finished.


The Jerk Pork & Fritters.



Served with classic Jamaican Rice & Peas (red beans and rice cooked with some allspice & coconut).


Hope you enjoy!

Cliff

Thanks Cliff!

That looks so good.

Thinkgs of beauty Cliff

Damn Cliff that's a perfect 10 all around. You outdid yourself with the conch fritters, awesome cook, thanks for sharing.

Great stuff Cliff...I knew the contest was over when you posted the conch box.
I really enjoyed seeing what you did this week! Awesome!

Looks so tasty Cliff! I'd love to try those fritters.

WOW, Cliff!!! What a meal! The last time I had conch fritters was in the Keys, many years ago. I may have to give them a try at home one of these days. Where did you get the conch?

Art

Wow this is one of the things I like about this forum is the diversity in what is cooked.

Hot damn skippy those look great.

Thanks everyone !

Art,
The least expensive I could find any Conch online was about $20 per lb. for canned and over $130 for a 5 lb box. frozen. YIKES! After several phone calls a local specialty foods store The Mustard Seed checked with their fish monger who was able to get a 5 lb. Box frozen for $79.95 ($15.99/lb. - including shipping) if I took the whole 5 lb. box, which I gladly did . A splurge to be sure, but worth it to get a taste of the Caribbean at home!

Not to mention it got me a sneak peak at the Big Poppa Double Secret rub !

truly amazing. really nice food partner.