GRILLED JERK CHICKEN WITH PAPAYA SALSA

Grilled Jerk Chicken with Papaya Salsa image

Categories Sauce Chicken Side Marinate Roast Papaya

Yield makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

FOR JERK MARINADE
3 green onions, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
4 to 5 fresh Scotch bonnet or habanero chiles, stemmed and seeded
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons ground allspice
2 teaspoons black pepper
3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
FOR CHICKEN
4 chicken breast halves with skin and bones (3 pounds), halved crosswise
2 1/2 to 3 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks
Papaya Salsa (recipe follows)
Special equipment: Gas or charcoal grill (optional)

Steps:

MAKE MARINADE
Blend all marinade ingredients in a blender until smooth.
MARINATE AND GRILL CHICKEN
Divide the chicken pieces and marinade in 2 sealable plastic bags. Seal the bags, pressing out excess air, then turn bags over several times to distribute marinade. Put bags of chicken in a shallow pan and marinate, chilled, turning once or twice, for 1 day.
Let chicken stand at room temperature 1 hour before cooking.
COOK CHICKEN USING CHARCOAL GRILL
Open the vents on the bottom of the grill and on the lid. Light a large chimney of charcoal briquettes (about 100) and pour them evenly over one side of a bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of charcoal).
When the charcoal turns grayish white and you can hold your hand 5 inches above the rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear the chicken in batches on a lightly oiled rack over the coals until well browned on all sides, about 3 minutes per batch. Move the chicken as seared to the side of the grill with no coals underneath, then cook, covered with the lid, until cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes more.
Serve the chicken with the papaya salsa.
COOK CHICKEN USING GAS GRILL
Preheat the burners on high, then adjust heat to moderate. Cook chicken until well browned on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Adjust the heat to low and cook chicken, covered with lid, until cooked through, about 25 minutes more.
Serve the chicken with papaya salsa.
COOK CHICKEN USING AN OVEN
If you can't grill, you can roast the chicken in two large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pans in the upper and lower thirds of a 400°F oven, switching the position of the pans halfway through the roasting, 40 to 45 minutes total.