Get ready to experience the vibrant and bold flavors of Jamaica with our Jamaican Fried Chicken recipe. It’s all about creating golden, crispy chicken pieces infused with the island’s signature seasonings. Even if you’ve never tried your hand at Jamaican cuisine, our simple recipe will have you savoring the taste of the Caribbean in no time. Let’s dive into the world of spices, heat, and succulent chicken that’s sure to become a family favorite. Jamaican Fried Chicken, coming right up!
I’ll take you on a flavorful journey to the heart of Jamaica with my personal experience of making Jamaican Fried Chicken. This recipe is a family favorite, and every step is a celebration of tradition and taste.
The journey begins with the chicken—always fresh and pristine. To ensure that it’s impeccably clean, I immerse the chicken pieces in a mixture of white vinegar and water. This not only cleans the chicken but also sets the stage for marinating it.
I seasoned the chicken with salt, all purpose seasoning, chicken seasoning, ginger and garlic seasoning, paprika and cayenne pepper. The seasoned chicken was then left to marinate overnight. This marinating process infuses the chicken with layers of rich and zesty flavors.
Now, it’s time to bring the chicken to life. I added 1 cup of milk and 2 eggs to the seasoned chicken and combined.
The next step is a crucial one—preparing the seasoned flour mixture. It’s a blend of flour, baking powder, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, ginger, garlic seasoning, and salt. This mixture will encase the chicken and create that iconic crispy exterior that Jamaican fried chicken is known for.
With the chicken now marinated, it’s time to take the flavor journey to the next level. I carefully drain the chicken pieces from the milk and egg mixture and coat them in the seasoned flour mixture. Each piece is enveloped in a blanket of aromatic and textured goodness.
Now, the magic finale—frying the coated chicken pieces. I heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer until it shimmers with anticipation. The chicken pieces are placed in the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd. Each piece fries for 10-20 minutes to a golden brown, depending of the size of the chicken and until it is no longer pink inside and the juices run clear.
Once golden brown and perfectly crispy, I carefully removed the chicken and placed it on absorbent paper to drain. It’s a moment of satisfaction, knowing that the journey is complete, and the destination is a plate of Jamaican Fried Chicken, a testament to tradition, flavor, and the joy of home-cooked meals.
Clean chicken in a mixture of white vinegar and 4 cups water.
Season the chicken with salt, all purpose seasoning, chicken seasoning, ginger and garlic seasoning, paprika and cayenne pepper. Rub the seasoning in and leave the chicken to marinate for 2 hours or overnight.
Add 1 cup of milk and 2 eggs to the seasoned chicken and combine.
In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, black pepper, paprika, ginger and garlic seasoning and mix well.
Remove the chicken pieces from the milk and egg mixture and coat in the flour mixture. Be sure to shake off the excess flour.
Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer and use to fry the coated chicken pieces until golden brown; 10-20 minutes depending on the size of the chicken pieces. Try not to overcrowd the deep fryer. Drain on absorbent paper.
Can be served with vegetables, potato salad, rice and peas, white rice or side of choice. Add a gravy or sauce for enhancement.
Maintain the oil's temperature while frying. If it's too hot, the outside may burn before the inside is fully cooked. If it's too cool, the chicken will absorb more oil.
After frying, place the chicken on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil and keep it crispy.
Experiment with different spice blends for a unique twist on traditional Jamaican fried chicken.
