| The island of Jamaica is well known for its interesting | | | | The jerk spice is actually a mixture of spices and has |
| cuisine. Popular Jamaican dishes include curried goat, | | | | a fiery flavor. The principle ingredients in the spice are |
| rice and peas (which is actually rice cooked with | | | | Jamaican pimento (also known as "Jamaican allspice") |
| legumes such as kidney beans), and of course the | | | | and Scotch bonnet peppers, however a variety of |
| national dish of saltfish (salted cod) and ackee (a | | | | other spices are also commonly added to the mixture |
| type of fruit). However, for non-Jamaicans, perhaps | | | | including nutmeg, cloves, cinnamin, thyme and garlic. |
| those most famous of dishes from the island are | | | | Historically jerk dishes were prepared by slowly |
| jerk dishes, especially since the Jamaican emigrants | | | | smoking strips of meat over an open fire. Indeed, |
| have introduced these dishes to other countries such | | | | this fact explains the origin of the word "jerk" (and |
| as the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, | | | | for that matter of "jerky") - it comes from a native |
| where jerk has become quite popular. | | | | American word, "charqui", which means "dried meat". |
| In Jamaica itself, the jerk style of cooking is | | | | However, nowadays, jerk dishes are instead |
| traditionally used for preparing goat or pork, however | | | | prepared by cooking on a barbecue-style grill, or even |
| it can also be used for other meats such as chicken, | | | | a kitchen oven. For the most authentic flavor, you |
| for fish, or even tofu. In other countries, probably | | | | should try using a charcoal grill, and if possible adding |
| the most popular jerk dish is jerk chicken. | | | | some pimento wood or berries on top of the hot |
| All jerk dishes are prepared by rubbing or marinading | | | | coals. |
| the meat with Jamaican jerk spice before cooking. | | | | |