Warm Winter Food

December 16, 2009 |Sweet Bites

As the cold of winter approaches, I find myself looking for something hot to eat.  Not just steamy hot, a warm bowl of soup is great, but I like to have spicy hot as well.  Something that warms you from the inside and really stays with you.  One of my favorite winter recipes is Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Sweet Potatoes.  This aromatic Caribbean dish uses all of the “warm” spices” that conjure thoughts of fall at the very mention of their names.  Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger and Allspice add their sweet warmth to an already pungent sauce seasoned with scotch bonnet peppers.

Jerk Chicken gets its name from the  Quechua word charqui. Meaning dried meat. It is the same word that gave us Beef “Jerky”, but not for the same reason as Jerk Chicken.  In the southern parts of the world, especially the islands, dried meats were laid out on a grid of Allspice tree bark.  Imparting the same wonderful flavors that cause us to “jerk” the meat off of the bone today.  Blended with the other island spices, poured over beautiful sweet potatoes and topped with chicken. It’s the perfect meal for a cold winter’s night and it bakes in one pot for easy cleanup.  The sweetness of the potatoes mellows the heat for a dish that is so perfectly balanced, you have to try it to believe it.

Jerk Marinade

  • 1/4 cup ground allspice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 6 green onions
  • 2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (or Jalapenos for milder sauce)
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon oil
  • 2 teaspoons thyme
  • 1 bay leaf

Directions:

  1. Roughly chop ginger, garlic, green onions, and jalapenos. For the peppers, remove seeds to reduce level of spice to suit personal taste.
  2. Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender, blend until fully pureed into a thick sauce.
Marinade will season 8 pieces of chicken.  If possible, place your chicken in the marinade for 4 hours or overnight.  The longer it marinates, the better the flavor will be.
One Dish Casserole
  • 4 pieces chicken (thighs work well)
  • 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning mix
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • 3 cups sweet potato, peeled and cubed
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Preheat oven temperature to 400F (200C)
  • In a medium casserole, add pineapple and sweet potato. Toss with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and arrange in an even layer.
  • Mix chicken pieces with 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning until chicken is covered thoroughly. If possible, allow the chicken to marinate overnight for more flavor.
  • Place chicken pieces in the casserole dish on top of the pineapple and sweet potato layer.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes or until chicken tests done and sweet potatoes are tender.
  • Preheat oven temperature to 400F (200C)
  • In a medium casserole, add pineapple and sweet potato. Toss with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and arrange in an even layer.
  • Mix chicken pieces with 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning until chicken is covered thoroughly. If possible, allow the chicken to marinate overnight for more flavor.
  • Place chicken pieces in the casserole dish on top of the pineapple and sweet potato layer.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes or until chicken tests done and sweet potatoes are tender.
  • Preheat oven temperature to 400F (200C)
  • In a medium casserole, add pineapple and sweet potato. Toss with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and arrange in an even layer.
  • Mix chicken pieces with 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning until chicken is covered thoroughly. If possible, allow the chicken to marinate overnight for more flavor.
  • Place chicken pieces in the casserole dish on top of the pineapple and sweet potato layer.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes or until chicken tests done and sweet potatoes are tender.
Directions:

  1. Preheat oven temperature to 400F (200C)
  2. In a medium casserole, add pineapple and sweet potato. Toss with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and arrange in an even layer.
  3. Mix chicken pieces with 1/4 cup Jamaican jerk seasoning until chicken is covered thoroughly. If possible, allow the chicken to marinate overnight for more flavor.
  4. Place chicken pieces in the casserole dish on top of the pineapple and sweet potato layer.
  5. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until chicken tests done and sweet potatoes are tender.

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Christmas Tip

Make your holiday sweet potato pies with Eggnog.  It adds a double punch of smooth and creamy, with just the right touch of seasonal spices.