Jerk Chicken with Cilantro Mayonnaise
Tough-to-blend spices add smokiness to the marinade, while a cooling cilantro mayonnaise makes an ideal topping.
Ingredients
- (4 chicken) legs, cut into thighs and drumsticks
- (1 bunch) green onions
- (1 mediumsized) knob of ginger, finely chopped
- (8 small) garlic cloves, peeled, smashed
- (2 scotch) bonnet peppers
- (Juice and) Zest of 5 limes
- (6 sprigs) thyme
- (1 teaspoon) whole black peppercorns
- (1½ Tablespoon) coriander seed
- (1 Tablespoon) whole allspice
- (6 whole) cloves
- (1 teaspoon) ground nutmeg
- (2 cinnamon) sticks
- (2 Tablespoons) honey, or other sweetener, to taste
- (4 Tablespoons) brown sugar
- (1 bunch) cilantro
- 60 ml (¼ cup) canola oil
- 60 ml (¼ cup) orange juice
- (1 teaspoon) sea salt
Directions
- Place the spring onions, garlic, scotch bonnet, and ginger on a grill or a smoking hot griddle pan.
- Cook until tender, not to charred.
- Add to the Vitamix container.
- In a dry skillet, place the peppercorns, coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
- Cook over medium heat until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the ground nutmeg and cook 15 seconds.
- Add to the Vitamix container.
- Add the rest of the marinade ingredients to the Vitamix container and secure the lid. Select Variable 1, start the machine, and increase to its highest speed.
- Blend for 1 minute or until completely smooth.
- Place the chicken into a bowl and pour the marinade over it. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to marinate for at least 1 hour or preferably overnight.
- Add the cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper, and oil to the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
- Select Variable 1, start the machine, and increase to its highest speed.
- Blend for 25 seconds.
- Strain through a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Refrigerate overnight to completely strain. You will be left with a clear, bright green oil.
- Transfer to a jug and discard the pulp.
- Add the eggs and mustard to the Vitamix container and secure the lid.
- Select Variable 1, start the machine, and increase to it highest speed.
- Blend for 30 seconds, until the yolks become pale.
- Lower the speed to Variable 1 and remove the lid plug. Slowly drizzle in the cilantro oil until the mayonnaise emulsifies.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing some of the marinade to stay on the chicken. Grill the chicken and finish in a oven, if desired. Serve with 2 tablespoons of cilantro mayonnaise.
