Jerk chicken with rice & peas

Jerk chicken with rice & peas

The Jamaican marinade has many versions, but John Torode likes his super spicy with a dash of soy and served with coconut basmati

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 25 mins

Cook time

Cook 45 mins

plus overnight marinating

Method

  1. To make the jerk marinade, combine all the ingredients in a food processor along with 1 tsp salt, and blend to a purée. If you're having trouble getting it to blend, just keep turning off the blender, stirring the mixture, and trying again. Eventually it will start to blend up - don't be tempted to add water, as you want a thick paste.
  2. Taste the jerk mixture for seasoning - it should taste pretty salty, but not unpleasantly, puckering salty. You can now throw in more chillies if it's not spicy enough for you. If it tastes too salty and sour, try adding in a bit more brown sugar until the mixture tastes well balanced.
  3. Make a few slashes in the chicken thighs and pour the marinade over the meat, rubbing it into all the crevices. Cover and leave to marinate overnight in the fridge.
  4. If you want to barbecue your chicken, get the coals burning 1 hr or so before you're ready to cook. Authentic jerked meats are not exactly grilled as we think of grilling, but sort of smoke-grilled. To get a more authentic jerk experience, add some wood chips to your barbecue, and cook your chicken over slow, indirect heat for 30 mins. To cook in the oven, heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the chicken pieces in a roasting tin with the lime halves and cook for 45 mins until tender and cooked through.
  5. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice & peas. Rinse the rice in plenty of cold water, then tip it into a large saucepan with all the remaining ingredients except the kidney beans. Season with salt, add 300ml cold water and set over a high heat. Once the rice begins to boil, turn it down to a medium heat, cover and cook for 10 mins.
  6. Add the beans to the rice, then cover with a lid. Leave off the heat for 5 mins until all the liquid is absorbed. Squeeze the roasted lime over the chicken and serve with the rice & peas, and some hot sauce if you like it really spicy.

PER SERVING

757 kcalories, protein 38g, carbohydrate 48g, fat 43 g, saturated fat 18g, fibre 6g, sugar 14g, salt 2.6 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, August 2012.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 2012-09-01 21:44:53.135354

    Aly D rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made this recipe using chicken breasts as I didn't have the thighs and it still worked really well. I only had one scotch bonnet chili but it was spicy enough just with that and I really love spicy food! It was delicious, and I didn't need to adjust the flavour balance of the paste. My husband and 14 year old son really loved it. Make sure you rinse the kidney beans really well, or they colour the rice pink!!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-09-04 12:30:41.91468

    Worr rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Used chicken breasts as I had them in, just adjusted the cooking time a little. Used normal strength chillies as usually can't eat scotch bonnet ones but next time I definitely will - it was tasty but did need a bit of extra chilli kick.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-09-06 07:53:57.947018

    Anna rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Superb! Really lovely with a spicy kick that everyone in my house enjoyed! I think the amounts stated in the marinade are perfect. I used whole legs (thighs and drumsticks separated) which worked just the same (I think the skin and cooking on the bone add fantastic flavour) and I used 400g of dried kidney beans (soaked overnight and cooked in advance- more hassle but it's what I had).

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-09-07 08:39:32.05151

    GregB54 commented on this recipe

    The peas should be cooked first and then the rice added afterwards to the same water, giving the rice the flavour from the peas. it should be a little pink Aly D. Heat can be adjusted by removing some of the seeds from the peppers... Also allspice refers to Pimento berries... You can usually find these in ethnic sections of the supermarket...

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-09-16 13:22:56.060864

    Penny rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Pretty good, I had to leave out the chillies as sharing with a toddler but slathered my portion in Tabasco and that worked ok! Next time I'll barbecue rather than bake as it would benefit from the crispy, charred flavour.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-09-16 17:47:40.935657

    Carl Marsh commented on this recipe

    This recipe was the hit of the summer! All the family loved it, as did more than one set of guests. Glad to add it to my binder as I know we'll be making this pretty regularly from now on.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-11-05 21:44:33.492729

    debs rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I was fed up with take always so for a little while ago we decided no moe takeaways on a Saturday and hubby and I have something different which we cook (well I do lol) we have made some lovely tai, Chinese, Indian so we thought we'd try Caribbean. Not an expert on that style f food but remember having jerk chicken in a Caribbean restaurant once so decided to make this.... It was fantastic, better than the restaurant. Rice and beans was lovely as well. Was worried it would be dry as hubby likes lots of sauce, but not the case wouldn't change a thing. Will make again very soon.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-11-12 20:51:54.077349

    mandy commented on this recipe

    hi ,made this dish and loved it. don't like coconut so never used it i added spring onions and normal peas instead of kidney beans to the rice it was yum will deffinatly do this dish again

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-11-13 13:31:29.482911

    bean_mother rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This has become a firm favourite in our house. Haven't braved Scotch Bonnets yet, but am going to next time. Just been using standard red chillies and seeds. LOVE the chicken and LOVE the rice.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-11-15 06:59:08.169273

    Smeddy rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    The recipe is great! However, shouldn't the title be 'Jerk chicken with rice & beans'?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2012-11-27 10:54:45.55084

    cakeanyone? rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This marinade is drinkably good!! Will try with chicken breast next time.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-01-04 19:08:50.966448

    Julia555 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    really enjoyed this. Changed the prep slightly. Didn't blend the marinade just mixed in chopped ingredients with the meat. Then once cooked I blending all the juices and baked spring onions, etc. from around the meat into a lovely sauce, then put the chicken on a hot griddle pan and flash fried. Also next time will just use water and no coconut milk. Result = amazing.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-01-06 18:47:23.559326

    Lawnor commented on this recipe

    Damn tasty but too hot for me if I leave the seeds in. I'll have to try again without the seeds. The chicken microwaves and freezes ok too. It might be a little spicier after too. I microwaved for 4 minutes. It was cooked through but perhaps not quite as hot as I would have liked. It did melt the container I had frozen it in so I recommend transferring it to a plate before microwaving. Dunno how long it would want in an oven from frozen but I might try that with my remaining portion.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-01-25 20:49:15.422534

    drydoni rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made the chicken the day before to allow it to marinade overnight. A gret dish to prepare in advance in you are having friends round. With regards to the beans, I only had chilli kidney beans but they drained the same and added extra kick! Also used a mixture of spring onions and leeks for the marinade and the rice because I didnt have enough spring onions. A beautiful cheap dish to make as ost of the ingredients are store cupboard staples, cant wait to have the rest for lunch tomorrow yum yum!!!!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-01-27 21:03:04.277166

    ebsnare rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I only made the chicken from the recipe but I thought it was delicious. After I made the marinade, I foolishly tried a bit of it - and it is CRAZY spicy! But once it's on the chicken and baked, it's really tasty and much milder. My one tip is in order to get the skin nice and crispy, scrape off any marinade where it's really thick before you bake it, and turn the temperature up for the last 10 minutes. This makes it a lot nicer! It also goes well with a yoghurt and mint/lime dressing if you have it with salad.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-01-29 20:23:26.936298

    gjayanikasa rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This recipe is absolutely outstanding! I must admit, when I first read the ingredients for the rice and peas I wasn't sure they'd all go together, but the both the chicken and rice and peas were truly fantastic. Do try it. I'm now planning on making John Torode's Jamaican Goat Curry.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-01-29 20:28:38.815276

    gjayanikasa commented on this recipe

    P.S. Husband and I only used half the number of chicken thighs (i.e. 6), but we kept all the other amounts for the jerk marinade as if we were doing 12 thighs. The flavour was amazing, and we got a bit of extra sauce/gravy at the end to pour over the chicken and rice.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-02-03 15:28:35.078984

    Lawnor rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Was damn tasty but way too hot for me. I want to make this again soon, but I'll remove the seeds from the chilies next time. Everyone loved it though, even if we couldn't feel our mothes for a few hours! I froze a portion and it cooked from frozen fine in the microwave.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-02-10 09:34:19.311179

    Rock Kitchen commented on this recipe

    I made this last night as per the recipe, except that I used 6 bird eye chillis rather than the scotch bonnets. I ate a spoonful of marinade before cooking and it was seriously hot. I used a free range chicken in quarters, served with new potato wedges and rocket salad instead of the rice and peas. Great recipe and will do again on the barbeque if it ever stops raining!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 2013-03-13 16:23:27.630224

    AllieB rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I followed the recipe and stupidly used three scotch bonnet chillies along with the seeds. It more or less ruined the meal as our mouths were on fire! I thought the recipe was very authentic though and will definitely make again with less chillies! I wasn't overly impressed with how the rice turned out - it was a bit of a mush which I put down to the basmati rice - will try using long grain rice next time.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 25 mins

Cook time

Cook 45 mins

plus overnight marinating

Ingredients

FOR THE JERK MARINADE

  • 1 big bunch spring onions , roughly chopped
  • thumb-sized piece ginger , roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • ½ a small onion
  • 3 scotch bonnet chillies, deseeded if you want less heat
  • ½ tsp dried thyme , or 1 tbsp thyme leaves
  • juice 1 lime
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground allspice

FOR THE RICE & PEAS

  • 200g basmati rice
  • 400g can coconut milk
  • 1 bunch spring onions , sliced
  • 2 large thyme sprigs
  • 2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 2 x 410g cans kidney beans , drained
Print this recipe
Add to your binder

PER SERVING

757 kcalories, protein 38g, carbohydrate 48g, fat 43 g, saturated fat 18g, fibre 6g, sugar 14g, salt 2.6 g

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close