This basic jerk seasoning recipe is perfect for those who want the authentic taste of Jamaica at home. With ingredients like allspice, Scotch Bonnet peppers, and cinnamon, this seasoning brings a fiery yet flavorful kick to any meat. You can adjust the heat by adding or omitting hot pepper sauce, making it customizable to your taste!
How to Make Jerk Seasoning
To make this flavorful jerk seasoning, start by preparing your fresh ingredients. Clean and chop the scallions, ensuring you use both the green and white parts for balanced flavor. For the Scotch Bonnet peppers, slice them in half and remove the seeds if you prefer a milder heat. Keep the seeds if you’re brave enough to handle the full spice kick!
Next, measure out your dry spices—Jamaican pimento (allspice), nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper—ensuring accurate quantities to keep the seasoning balanced. Gather the wet ingredients, including red wine vinegar, vegetable oil, soy sauce, and optional hot pepper sauce.
Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend for about one minute or until the mixture becomes smooth and paste-like. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed to ensure everything is fully incorporated. The mixture should have a vibrant color and a bold, aromatic scent.
Once blended, transfer the jerk seasoning to a clean, airtight jar. Refrigerate it to allow the flavors to meld together. This seasoning can be stored for up to a week and improves with time, making it even more flavorful when used later.
Pro Tips for Perfect Jerk Seasoning
Leave a Comment!
If you try this recipe, let me know how it goes! And don’t forget to share it with your family—you know they’re gonna ask for it and check out our other recipes.
Jerk Seasoning (Basic)
Ingredients
- 2 oz Jamaican pimento allspice, crushed
- ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 12 scallions cleaned and chopped
- 6 Scotch Bonnet peppers halved with seeds OR 12 jalapeno peppers, halved with seeds
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- Hot pepper sauce optional
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Clean and chop the scallions and peppers. Gather the pimento, nutmeg, cinnamon, vinegar, oil, salt, black pepper, and soy sauce.
- Blend it all together: Add all the ingredients into a blender or food processor. If you like it extra hot, pour in some hot pepper sauce.
- Liquefy the mixture: Blend for 1 minute until the seasoning forms a smooth, liquid paste.
- Store for later: Transfer to a jar and refrigerate. Your jerk seasoning is ready.
