Warm Up Your Belly with Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Craving sunshine? For a tropical taste in the middle of winter, try these Jerk Chicken Drumsticks. Traditionally a Jamaican cuisine staple, jerk chicken is most known for its combination of scotch bonnet peppers and ground allspice. Though the spice rub and marinade is quite spicy, the chicken once baked is a little milder. To make jerk chicken, you pretty much need to use your entire spice cabinet. Im only halfway kidding! Eight different spices go into the marinade, as well as brown sugar, lime juice, an onion and a scotch bonnet pepper. If you cant find scotch bonnets where you live, try a Serrano or Habanero instead. Just make sure to use gloves while handling and dont touch your eyes or face. Jerk chicken should be marinated for about four hours, or overnight if you really want to bring on the heat. Many would serve this dish with black beans and rice, but I love the combination of jerk chicken and mashed sweet potatoes, myself! The sweetness of the potatoes pairs nicely with the heat of the chicken. If this chicken doesnt warm you up, Im not sure what will!

---

Jenna Weber is half of the Fresh Tastes blog team. She graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2008 and, since then, has worked as a pastry chef, bread baker and freelance food editor. Currently, Jenna blogs full-time on EatLiveRun.com where her delicious daily recipes and quirky culinary musings appeal to thousands. She lives in Northern California and, when not in the kitchen, can usually be found on her yoga mat.