A fun delicious healthy meal to enjoy in the middle of winter when you get a bit tired of stews and soups. Jerk is normally used as bbq spice rub over chicken, meats or seafoods. I found it also works very well with black beans too. We often make it with a tropical salad to freshen up the spicy flavors and lighten the meal. The salad works well independently or serve it with jerk spiced bbq. If you prefer jerk chicken, meat or fish, use this spice rub and grill in the oven or bbq.
- Jicama avocado salsa
- 1/2 medium papaya peeled and diced, should yield 2 cups or 1 large mango, just ripe
- 2 small has avocados scooped and diced
- 1 small diced jicama
- 1/2 red onion diced
- 1/4 head small red cabbage shredded
- 2 scallions, green part only
- Juice one 1 lime
- 1/4 Cup orange or pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon tamari or clean soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons e.v olive oil
- 1/2 jalapeƱo chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds or 2 tablespoons papaya seeds ( they are a bit strong and peppery)
- Pan fried plantains
- 1- 2 green plantains
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Jerk Tofu or black beans
- 1 cup black turtle beans, soaked overnight and cooked till soft alternatively you can also make it with 1-14 oz block Extra firm tofu or 1.5 lbs of chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon Jamaican Jerk spice mix, I like this brand or use the following recipe
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Jerk Spice mix
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1tsp sweet paprika
- 1/ 3 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp thyme leaves
- 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Jerk Spice mix
Add the coriander, cumin and allspice to a dry skillet and toast over medium heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add this to the remaining spices. Place the spices in a spice jar and grind to a fine powder.
To make jerk black beans : in a sauce pan warm oil and add onions. Cook till soft about 5 minutes.nnow add the garlic and jerk spice mix. Mixt till fragrant. Add the black beans and mix. Bri g it to a boil and simmer for 7-10 mi jets. Add a little water of broth to thin out. Cook till very soft. Set aside.
To Make Jerk Tofu or Chicken: add oil to the powder and make a paste. Place the tofu between paper towel and absorb excess moisture. Cut the block into 3- 1/2 inch slices, then cut each slice diagonally to make two triangles. Brush the tofu with the spice paste and leave it to marinate for an hour for the spices to absorb. Bring a grill pan to a medium heat. Grill each slice of tofu for 3-4 minutes till you get grill marks on each side. Set aside and keep warm. Use this method to make jerk chicken, fish, or shrimps too.
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