Belizean Jerk Chicken
INGREDIENTS
- 3 whole chickens
For the Jerk seasoning:
- 4 sweet peppers
- 2 onions
- 2 tomatoes (not too ripe)
- 10 cloves garlic
- 2 habanero peppers (can be reduced)
- 1 inch ginger
- 10 leaves local oregano
- 1 table spoon dried oregano
- 1 table spoon thyme leafs
- ½ table spoon paprika powder
- ½ table spoon cumin
- ½ table spoon crushed black pepper
- ½ table spoon salt
- 3 oz dark rum
- 3 oz lime juice
- 2 slices orange peel
- 20 cilantro seeds
- 4 leaves all spice
- Some olive oil to liquefy
- 6 lbs sweet potato
- 8 oz margarine or butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 6 oranges
PREPARATION
Cut the chicken in 8 pieces and remove all skin, then rinse the chicken in some water to remove all bone fragments and blood .
Cut the onions, pepper, garlic and ginger roughly before putting in the food processor
Then add the dry herbs and spices, the lime-juice and the rum. Blend the mixture on full speed and add as much olive oil as needed to give it a smooth texture.
Rub the chicken pieces with the jerk seasoning and allow marinating several hours (overnight is best)
Place the chicken on a baking tray and roast on a smoky barbeque oven for up to 45 minutes on low heat.
Drizzle or brush the chicken with the marinate on a regular base
Peel the sweet potatoes and boil in sufficient salted water till done.
Strain the potatoes and allow to dry for a couple of minutes.
Then mash them in a food processor while adding the butter, eggs and cinnamon.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer the mashed potatoes to a piping bag.
Cut the oranges in half and remove all meat.
Pipe the mash in to the orange skin
Place the filled oranges on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes on 350 F
This version of the jerk seasoning is best after about 24 hours of marinating. Apart from chicken this preparation can be used for pork, lamb and even fish.
Lucy & Mick Fleming, Founders and Owners
“We came back here with three generations and Chaa Creek brought joy and inspiration to each! Canoeing, horseback riding, exploring the medicine trail, delicious meals, climbing Xunantunich…each experience more memorable than the next. We hope to come back soon to this magical place” 
