Jerk Chicken and Waffles (Coconut Rum Waffle)
Jerk chicken and waffles is a modern fusion. Jerk chicken and waffles combine the spicy, smoky flavors of Jamaican jerk chicken. They mix with the sweet, comforting texture of waffles. This creates a new and exciting flavor. Served with warm rum syrup for either breakfast, brunch, or a snack.
Table of Contents
ToggleChicken and Waffles History
Jerk Chicken
Jerk chicken comes from Jamaica. It has a history that dates back to the Taíno people. They lived on the island before Europeans came.
The Taíno used a method of cooking meat over an open flame, similar to what we know as jerk cooking today.
African slaves were brought to Jamaica. They added their cooking methods and spices. This enriched the jerk tradition.
Jerk seasoning has key elements. These include allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. They are native to the Caribbean.
These ingredients are mixed with other spices and herbs. They create the unique, spicy, and smoky flavor of jerk chicken.
Waffles
Waffles have a much older history, dating back to the Middle Ages in Europe. The modern American waffle comes from recipes brought by European immigrants.
They were mostly Dutch, who made waffles with a grid pattern like ours.
Waffles became particularly popular in the United States in the 19th century. In the 20th century, they were often served as a breakfast dish.
They were sometimes paired with fried chicken. This likely started in African-American communities in the Southern United States. Now we are putting a Caribbean spin on it presenting jerk chicken and waffles.
Chicken and Waffles
The dish of chicken and waffles became popular in the early 20th century. It was especially so in Harlem, New York, during the Jazz Age.
The combo of savory fried chicken and sweet waffles made a hearty meal. You could eat it any time of day. This made it a favorite among late-night diners and musicians. And now we create the jerk chicken and waffles giving the classic dish a modern Caribbean twist.
Chicken Ingredients
- Whole Chicken or Leg Quarters: Provides the main protein for the dish. Using whole chicken or leg quarters ensures a mix of white and dark meat. This mix adds a variety of textures and flavors. The bone-in cuts also help retain moisture during cooking.
- Black Pepper adds sharp, spicy heat. It complements the other spices and makes the jerk seasoning spicier.
- Onion Powder adds a concentrated onion flavor. It adds depth and a bit of sweetness to the marinade. This enhances the overall flavor.
- Garlic Powder adds a strong, savory flavor. It complements the other spices and improves the taste of the chicken.
- Complete Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices. It adds a well-rounded, savory flavor to the chicken. It typically includes ingredients like garlic, onion, parsley, and salt.
- Adobo: A seasoning blend that usually includes garlic, oregano, black pepper, and turmeric. It adds a rich, savory flavor and enhances the overall taste of the dish.
- Jerk Seasoning (Hot or Mild) is the key ingredient in jerk chicken. It includes a mix of spices like allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers. This seasoning gives the chicken its characteristic spicy, smoky, and aromatic flavor.
- Browning makes a caramelized sauce. It adds color and a deep, slightly bitter flavor to the chicken. It makes the chicken look and taste better.
- Green Seasoning is a mixture of fresh herbs. These include cilantro, parsley, thyme, green onions, garlic, and peppers. It adds a fresh, herbal flavor and helps tenderize the meat.
- Mushroom sauce adds umami and a rich, earthy flavor to the chicken. It complements the other spices and ingredients.
Sauce Ingredients
- Use the leftover liquid from the bowl that the chicken was seasoned in to start the sauce.
- Ketchup adds tangy sweetness. It helps to mellow the heat.
- Red Stripe Beer enhances the sauce. It adds a subtle maltiness and a hint of bitterness. These flavors complement the sweetness and spiciness of the other ingredients.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to the chicken.
How to Cook Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- Cut the chicken open and clean the gut.
- Wash the Chicken with Vinegar and Lime, and let it soak for 10 mins Tip: this takes away the slime and rawness.
- Rinse off the chicken with water.
- Stab up the chicken on both sides Tip: yes I said that lol. That’s how you get that seasoned-to-the-bone taste.
- Add all your dry seasoning then all your wet ingredients
- Rub that chicken Tip: all the holes you stabbed make sure to push all the seasoning in the holes.
Let’s Jerk Some Chicken
- Light the grill then clean the grill with a wire brush.
- Spray the grill with oil so it doesn’t stick.
- Put your chicken on its back skin side up, on the grill for 20mins.
- Keep flipping the chicken every 20 minutes for 45 minutes -1 hour (depending on the size of the chicken)
- When the chicken is almost done just start making your sauce.
How to Make Your Jerk Sauce
- Use the leftover liquid from the bowl that the chicken was seasoned in to start the sauce.
- Add Ketchup, Red Stripe Beer, Sugar, Red Pepper Flakes
- Mix, Mix, Mix and that’s it.
- Flip and add the sauce to the other side and let it soak on the grill for 5 mins.
- Tip: Let chicken cool down before chopping
- All done just plate and serve.
Coconut Rum Waffle Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: The base of the waffle batter
- Granulated sugar: Aids in sweetness but not overly sweet.
- Baking powder: and baking soda helps the waffles rise and brown. For the lightest waffles, we recommend using both.
- Salt: help the waffles taste great. Honestly, it’s up to preference when it comes to sugar and salt.
- Nutmeg: Perfect spice in the waffle
- Cinnamon Powder: nice spice to add to any waffle recipe
- Canola oil: is our go-to fat for these waffles. We have tried melted butter, and while it does add a buttery flavor, we prefer the texture with oil. You can try this yourself. Just use the same amount of melted butter as the recipe calls for oil.
- Coconut Milk: is the liquid in the batter. The combination of milk and coconut milk takes your pallets to the next level. That coconut flavor tastes incredible.
- Vanilla extract: Always adds an amazing flavor.
- Jamaican White Rum: Made with sugar cane as one of the ingredients in this rum it has hints of subtle sweetness. The rum is not overpowering and you will not get drunk. (optional)
How to Make Coconut Rum Waffles
- Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon nutmeg, and salt and set that aside.
- Combine wet ingredients. Add the coconut milk and milk of choice we chose almond milk, then add the egg yolks white rum, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir them together. Don’t over-mix it! A few chunks are just fine.
- Spray your waffle maker with a pan. Then, add the batter and cook according to your waffle iron’s instructions. Let it cook to the setting you choose.)
- Serve and eat! Serve your waffles with some Chicken and syrup!
Chicken and Waffles FAQs
What goes with Jerk Chicken?
Jamaican Jerk Chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in various ways. It can be served on its own as a main dish, or it can be used as a filling for sandwiches or wraps.
It can also be served with traditional Jamaican sides. These include rice and peas, fried dumplings, and boiled dumplings. They also include waffles, festivals, bread, and white rice.
Is Jamaican jerk chicken spicy?
If you don’t like heat, then jerk chicken is not for you. Most people cook jerk chicken with a spicy jerk marinade. But, you can tone it down by buying the mild jerk rub.
But the spiciness is what makes Jamaicans love our spices! The spiciness comes from the scotch bonnet peppers that are used.
What is Jamaican jerk sauce made of?
Jerk marinade or sauce is used to season any meat. It has allspice, onions, and garlic. Also, it has Scotch bonnet peppers, soy sauce, and brown sugar.
It also has ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and thyme. These spices are also commonly used as a dry rub known as Jamaican jerk seasoning.
Why is jerk chicken so good?
Good jerk is addicting. It’s well-made and authentic. It’s both smoky, succulent, sweet, and spicy. The long marination and cooking make it soft and moist. The hot, sweet BBQ sauce keeps you coming back for more.
How to Store and Reheat Waffles
Let your waffles cool completely first. Then you can put them in containers or freezer bags. They’ll be good for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Cool completely before storing in freezer bags or containers. They will keep up to two weeks in the refrigerator, and up to four-six months in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Waffles?
Of course! And you’ll feel better about giving them to your kids than those store-bought ones. Wrapped properly in a freezer bag, you can keep them for about 6 months.
How to Reheat Frozen Waffles?
If you have a toaster oven, pop them in and set them to light or medium. But watch out! These will be easier to burn. You can also microwave them. But, the toaster or oven is better. They will make sure you have golden, crispy waffles, not soggy ones.
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Wisdom
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He loves us so much and He will withhold no good thing from us. But it is up to us to declare His name here on earth. To show His power that He has blessed us with.
The power of prayer, the power to cast out devils, the power to heal and deliver His saints. The power of His Holy Spirit, that we must walk in daily, showing the world that Jesus Christ is alive, and He is coming back soon.
So may God bless us all, be gracious to us, and make His face shine upon us. Never leave us or forsake us, but welcome us all into His kingdom. Amen.
Jerk Chicken and Waffles (Coconut Rum Waffle)
Ingredients
Jerk Chicken Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken or leg quarters
- 3 tbsp of Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 5 tbsp Complete Seasoning
- 2 tbsp Adobo
- 4 tbsp Jerk seasoning you can use hot or mild
- 1.5 tbsp Browning
- ¼ cup Green Seasoning
- 3 tbsp Mushroom Sauce
Sauce Ingredients
- Use the leftover liquid from the bowl that the chicken was seasoned in to start the sauce.
Coconut Rum Waffle Ingredients
- 2 cups of coconut Milk
- ½ cup almond milk or milk of choice
- 2 ½ cups of cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon powder
- ½ tsp of nutmeg
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tbsp of Vanilla
- ⅓ cup of corn oil or coconut oil
- 1 cup sugar
- Nonstick cooking oil spray
Instructions
How to Cook Jerk Chicken
- Cut the chicken open and clean the gut.
- Wash the Chicken with Vinegar and Lime, and let it soak for 10 mins Tip: this takes away the slime and rawness.
- Rinse off the chicken with water.
- Stab up the chicken on both sides Tip: yes I said that lol. That’s how you get that seasoned-to-the-bone taste.
- Add all your dry seasoning then all your wet ingredients
- Rub that chicken Tip: all the holes you stabbed make sure to push all the seasoning in the holes.
Let’s Jerk Some Chicken
- Light the grill then clean the grill with a wire brush.
- Spray the grill with oil so it doesn’t stick.
- Put your chicken on its back skin side up, on the grill for 20mins.
- Keep flipping the chicken every 20 minutes for 45 minutes -1 hour (depending on the size of the chicken)
- When the chicken is almost done just start making your sauce.
How to Make Your Jerk Sauce
- Use the leftover liquid from the bowl that the chicken was seasoned in to start the sauce.
- Add Ketchup, Red Stripe Beer, Sugar, Red Pepper Flakes
- Mix, Mix, Mix and that’s it.
- Flip and add the sauce to the other side and let it soak on the grill for 5 mins.
- Tip: Let chicken cool down before chopping
- All done just plate and serve.
Coconut Rum Waffles Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon nutmeg, and salt and set that aside,
- Combine wet ingredients. Add the coconut milk and milk of choice we chose almond milk, then add the egg yolks white rum, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir them together. Don’t over-mix it! A few chunks are just fine.
- Spray your waffle maker with oil. Add the batter and cook it according to your waffle iron’s instructions (let it cook to the setting you choose.)
- Serve and eat! Serve your waffles with some Chicken and syrup!
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