| Jerk is a traditional style of Jamaican cooking. The | | | | mixture. The meat is prepared using this spice, by |
| name (in fact both the words "jerk" and "jerky" | | | | marinading, and perhaps also rubbing the spice into |
| actually comes from the Quechua native American | | | | light cuts made in the surface of the meat. |
| language word, "charqui", which means dried meat - | | | | After this preparation, the meat is ready to cook. |
| the idea being to cook thin strips of meat over a | | | | The best way to cook jerk dishes is using a charcoal |
| smoking open fire so as to preserve the meat. | | | | barbecue grill, especially if you can place some |
| Today, however jerk recipes are instead cooked on | | | | pimento wood or berries, or some hickory, on the |
| a charcoal barbecue grill, or failing that in a normal | | | | hot coals - as this really adds a nice smokey flavor to |
| kitchen oven, and the word "jerk" is used to refer to | | | | the meat. If you barbecue grilling is not possible, you |
| the style of cooking and preparation and the use of | | | | can cook jerk in your kitchen oven, and still achieve |
| spices in the dish. | | | | good results. |
| The key ingredient of jerk dishes is "jerk spice". This | | | | As far as choice of meat is concerned, it is up to |
| is actually a mix of several different spices, including | | | | you. In Jamaica, it's normal to use goat meat or pork. |
| Jamaican allspice (also known as "pimento" or | | | | You can however use other meats such as chicken if |
| "pimenta") and Scotch bell peppers, as well as garlic, | | | | you prefer, and some people even enjoy jerk fish or |
| cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. It is also common to | | | | tofu. |
| mix chopped onions or scallions into the jerk spice | | | | |