Our Executive Chef Collin Brown and Junior MasterChef winner Keziah Whittaker are the ultimate duo to make some seriously tasty jerk chicken! Keziah joined Chef Collin in the kitchen of our Hammersmith restaurant to talk all things jerk and make Keziah’s jerk marinade recipe.
Meet Keziah...
Keziah says cooking is in her genes, as her mum was a chef, so she grew up around food. However, it wasn't until she moved out and started living on her own that she started experimenting with new ingredients and techniques. Keziah decided to document her cooking journey on social media, sharing recipes, and many of her videos went viral. MasterChef then reached out to her, inviting her onto the show. She won, and that's when her cooking journey really took off!
Keziah explains that jerk is important to her because it has been a staple dish in her upbringing. It brings her family and friends together and is where the best memories and conversations are created. This inspired Keziah to create her very own jerk marinade recipe...
In the words of Chef Collin, every chef has their own vibe so every jerk marinade is unique. For Keziah the number one ingredient in her marinade is scotch bonnet however she cuts through the spice with orange and lime. Our jerk pit dishes are marinated for 24 hours in our aromatic spice rub, then fire-grilled & basted to bring out the unique flavours. Sounds amazing, right?
Keziah’s top tips for creating the tastiest jerk marinade:
- The fresher the ingredients, the bolder the flavours
- Leave the kitchen scales in the cupboard! In the Caribbean they weigh ingredients using their hands or by eye
- Keep it simple so all the ingredients work together
- Cook your jerk chicken low and slow in the oven to keep it juicy, then finish it off by charring it on the BBQ to lock in those smoky flavours
- Finally, top with lots of rich jerk gravy - there's no such thing as too much gravy!
Watch the full video to get all of Keziah’s tips and tricks, plus a few from Chef Collin too.
Keziah got Chef Collin's approval, now we want yours! Head down to your local Turtle Bay to watch our skilled chefs fire up the jerk pit. Whether you're craving our classic Jerk Chicken, Vegan Jerk Chicken, or our brand new Jerk Platter, which is perfect for two to share along with a few tropical 2-4-1 cocktails, we've got you covered. Just book a table and relax to feel-good reggae beats!
