Jamaican Jerk Seasoning- How to Use It in Jamaican Cooking

Jamaican jerk seasoning is popular around the world for the distinct flavor that it gives to food. Jamaicans have enjoyed this unique taste for decades. Over time, the ingredients that were used by these chefs in grilling food were combined and made available to all interested persons.

Nowadays, you can reproduce the grilled taste right in your own kitchen with Jamaican jerk seasoning without traveling to Jamaica. Add some onions, pimento and other spices to the seasoning to suit your tastes. Of course, the men and women who prepare jerk chicken, pork and fish at locations all around the island all have their own secret ingredient that makes their grilled offerings taste even better. There’s nothing like having a freshly prepared meal at Boston, Portland or spending some time at Scotchie’s, whether you are a tourist visiting from another country or live in Jamaica.

Both of these locations are famous for their jerk and for the atmosphere, where you can relax and also enjoy some Red Stripe Beer or another favorite brew with your meal. If you ever visit Jamaica, you should stop by these two places and enjoy what they have to offer. Scotchie’s in Montego Bay cooks jerk pork and chicken using the traditional method. The meat is seasoned and cooked slowly over pimento wood on an open barbeque.

Boston Bay in Jamaica is known worldwide as the birthplace of jerk. It is located in Portland and every year, a food festival that is centered around jerk food is held in that parish. If you fly over to Jamaica during that time you can enjoy the natural beauty of Portland and sample almost every kind of jerk food that there is on the planet. There are literally hundreds of food stalls and of course, in the home of reggae music, there’s going to be a lot of music.

All Images above are via Wikimedia

Using jerk seasoning in your kitchen to prepare grilled meats is not hard. Of course, some persons are vegetarian or vegan and will not eat pork, chicken or seafood but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the flavor. Jerked tofu is popular among vegetarians in Jamaica. You can also jerk a number of other food products that are not derived from animals. The list includes:

• Jerk corn
• Jerk yam
• Jerk cassava
• Jerked banana

I have a recipe for Jamaican jerk fish here. The procedure is the same for corn and tofu. Always allow the food to marinate in the seasonings for at least an hour. I prefer Walker’s Wood Jerk Seasoning. It is rich and smells great. There are dry seasonings available as well that you can try but I think this brand is the best. Use it sparingly the first time. It can be quite hot and if you are not used to the flavor of scotch bonnet peppers your eyes will water.

Walkerswood- Real Spicy Jamaican Jerk Seasoning 

Health Benefits of Ginger Tofu with Green Beans and Broccoli

The health benefits of ginger tofu with green beans and broccoli are not the main factors which cause people to try this dish. Rather, people are influenced by the mouth watering flavors that are combined in the meal. Many vegans and vegetarians have this Asian inspired combination on occasion.

Tofu is a good source of protein for people who do not eat meat. It also helps to reduce bad cholesterol. Green beans are antioxidants and help to strengthen the heart. Broccoli is an anti-inflammatory and is rich in potassium, which improves brain function. Ginger is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and is good for relieving chronic pain.

One of the benefits of cooking this is the speed with which it can be prepared. It takes less than fifteen minutes to peel the ginger, dice the organic block tofu and remove the stems from the green beans and chop the broccoli. if you are only preparing enough for one or two people, you can do all of that in just four or five minutes.

You should cook the tofu until it is golden brown, turning it to ensure that it is crisp on at least two sides before removing it from the pot. Sauté the green beans or broccoli with ginger and other spices, such as scallions and Jamaican scotch bonnet pepper. Add a little water to the pot and allow the vegetables to cook for a few minutes, and then add the cooked tofu.

This Can't Be Tofu!: 75 Recipes to Cook Something You Never Thought You Would--and Love Every Bite

Healthy Slow Cooker recipe book- Cooking a Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot with Gooseberry Patch

Many consumers today would like access to a healthy slow cooker recipe book. This would serve as a useful guide for preparing pork, turkey, beef and more in a crock pot. If you want to learn about cooking a whole chicken in a crock pot, the book 101 Slow-Cooker Recipes will help you to do that.

Crock pot cooking- Image via Wikimedia

The guide is produced by Gooseberry Patch and each recipe is accompanied by a photo. You will see recipes for meat based dishes such as Chipotle shredded beef. There are also instructions for preparing bread pudding, chowder and lasagna in a crock pot. If you have not prepared Tex-Mex chili dogs using this method before, you will learn how from this book.

101 Slow Cooker Recipes (On Amazon)- Delicious, Affordable Ingredients

There is a drawback to using 101 Slow-Cooker Recipes. If you are fond of using fresh seasonings, you will not use the recipes often because they rely on a lot of packaged seasonings. You will have to make the appropriate fresh substitutions for the powdered spices. Apart from that, you should find the book interesting and useful. This healthy slow cooker recipe book is available on kindle so you can check your ingredients while you are shopping for groceries.