Jerk Seasoning is an intensely flavorful, dry rub spice mixture commonly used in Jamaican cooking. It is meant to be spicy and made with ingredients like crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper to add heat. Easily mix up a batch to keep on hand in your pantry to use when needed.
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Jerk Seasoning is a flavorful mixture of herbs and spices that packs some heat. Scotch bonnet peppers are traditionally used, but this recipe is made with crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper that might be more likely to already be in your pantry.
It’s commonly used in Jamaican cooking, a favorite of my husbands that I have also really grown to love. He usually makes jerk chicken with side dishes like rice and beans and cabbage and carrots. I really like to add Sticky Sweet Fried Plantains on the side too to help balance out the heat.
You can use this spice mix in any recipe that calls for jerk seasoning, or experiment and sprinkle it onto anything from meat to seafood to veggies.
Why This Recipe Works
As with most homemade spice mixes, this jerk seasoning very easy to mix up. It’s as simple as measuring out individual herbs and spices and blending them together. If you want a finer mixture, you can use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
This is a very flavorful seasoning that is quite spicy. You can use it on foods like chicken, turkey, salmon, shrimp, or vegetables. It will bring a taste of the islands to any dish you add it to.
As with all homemade spice mixtures, you have full control over how it tastes and the spice level. Adjust the amount of individual herbs, add other types that aren’t in it, or omit an herb or spice you may not care for. You can reduce the amount of crushed red pepper and/or cayenne pepper for a milder flavor.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice: you may also see this called Jamaican pimento.
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper: you can use scotch bonnet pepper in place of the cayenne and crushed red pepper, if preferred.
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.
Prep!
There is no significant prep work for this recipe.
Create!
Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and mix until well combined.
Chef’s Tip: if a finer seasoning is preferred, you can use a spice grinder, mortar and pestle, or small food processor to blend it to your desired texture.
Present!
Store in a jar with a lid away from direct sunlight.
Use by the earliest expiration date on the individual jars of herbs used.
Tips and Techniques
- Use fresh, dried herbs and spices for the best results.
- If you prefer to use scotch bonnet pepper, simply replace the crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper with them.
- If you’d like a milder seasoning, you can reduce the red pepper flakes and/or cayenne pepper. For an even more authentic flavor, use scotch bonnet peppers instead of cayenne and crushed red pepper.
- If you don’t have or don’t like an ingredient, you can easily adjust this recipe to suite your own tastes.
- Use a spice or coffee grinder, food processor, or mortar and pestle to grind the spices finer, if desired.
- Store in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. Use by the earliest expiration date on the individual jars of herbs used.
FAQ’s
What Can Be Used As A Substitute For Jerk Seasoning?
If you don’t have jerk seasoning, or the ingredients to make it, you can use Cajun or Blackening Seasoning as a substitute.
More Homemade Spice Mixtures
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Jerk Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and mix until well combined.1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic, 1 tablespoon dried minced onion, 2 teaspoons ground allspice, 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons dried thyme, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- Use as desired by the earliest expiration date on the individual jars of herbs used.
Notes
Tips and Techniques
- Use fresh, dried herbs and spices for the best results.
- If you prefer to use scotch bonnet pepper, simply replace the crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper with them.
- If you'd like a milder seasoning, you can reduce the red pepper flakes and/or cayenne pepper. For an even more authentic flavor, use scotch bonnet peppers instead of cayenne and crushed red pepper.
- If you don’t have or don’t like an ingredient, you can easily adjust this recipe to suite your own tastes.
- Use a spice or coffee grinder, food processor, or mortar and pestle to grind the spices finer, if desired.
- Store in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. Use by the earliest expiration date on the individual jars of herbs used.
Nutrition
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